A former Wat Sa Ket (the Golden Mount) abbot was yesterday sentenced to a 36 month jail term, suspended for two years, and fined 27,000 baht for embezzling temple funds to the tune of 69.7 million baht.
Thongchai Sukkho, 64, was found guilty of malfeasance during his time as abbot of the famous temple, when he carried the name Phra Prom Sitthi. The sentence was handed down by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.
Thongchai Sukkho, 64, former abbot of Golden Mount temple, arrives at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases in Bangkok yesterday. Somchai Poomlard
Public prosecutors earlier told the court Thongchai conspired with former officials of the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) to funnel 69.7 million baht for Buddhist training and promotion activities to Wat Sa Ket. The court found the money was embezzled for personal use.
However, the court suspended the former abbot's jail term for two years because he had promoted Buddhism and never previously breached monastic rules.
The case also involved former NOB director Phanom Sornsilp, 60, former deputy director Chayapol Pongseeda, 64, former director for Buddhism promotion Narongdet Chaiyanet, and former academic official Pattana Su-ammatmontree, 50. Phanom was sentenced to two years and 12 months and the three other defendants to three years and 18 months.