More heads due to roll at Wat Sa Ket

More heads due to roll at Wat Sa Ket

Two former assistant abbots of Wat Sa Ket (Temple of the Golden Mount) in Bangkok and a layman have been indicted for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of a state fund to support Buddhism studies.

Prosecutors filed the indictments at the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct on Wednesday. They target Sangkom Kangkapat, formerly known as Phra Ratcha Upa-senapon, and Terd Wongcha-um, who used to hold the clerical title Phra Wichit Thammaporn. Both men are 47.

The layman, 43-year-old Thawit Sangyu, is believed to have close ties to DD Thaweekhun Co, which produces media materials for Wat Sa Ket.

All three were indicted on charges related to money laundering and embezzlement of the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) budget.

The NOB had earmarked 10 million baht for Wat Sa Ket to support its Phrapariyattidhamma School's general education section. It later came to light that the temple operated no such section and was not qualified to seek financial support.

The 10 million baht was siphoned from a 72-million-baht budget the NOB had allocated to the temple.

The charges against the three suspects also constitute an offence under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Sangha Act and the Criminal Code. Sangha refers to the Buddhist monastic order.

The two former monks allegedly signed their names to withdraw the money from the temple's account. Mr Thawit is believed to have acted on their behalf in spending it.

The court accepted the indictments vand was scheduled to hear the case on Sept 3, when the suspects will be brought over from Bangkok Remand Prison to attend the session. None have sought bail.

Wat Sa Ket was one of three Bangkok temples, along with Wat Samphanthawong and Wat Sam Phraya, Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers raided on May 24. They zeroed in any potential wrongdoing by senior monks.

Five monks were arrested including former Phra Wichit Thammaporn.

Ex-Wat Sa Ket abbot Phra Phrom Sitthi and a man formerly known as Phra Ratcha Upa-senapon turned themselves in to CSD police later.

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