Bangkok: The Criminal Court for Corruption Cases has delivered a verdict sentencing Thid Yaem, a former abbot of Wat Rai Khing, to 50 years in prison for embezzling 2 billion baht from the temple. Accompanying him in this sentence is Si Ka Ken, who was also given a 50-year term. In addition, the court ordered both to compensate the temple. However, a fourth defendant was acquitted of charges.
According to Thai News Agency, the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases held a hearing for case number AT.1444/2568. In this case, the public prosecutor from the Special Cases Division for Anti-Corruption Cases 1 acted as the plaintiff against five defendants. The defendants included Mr. Yaem Inthrakungkao, known as Tid Yaem and former abbot of Wat Rai Khing, Ms. Aranyawan, or Sika Ken, Mrs. Phachaphon, or Toey, Mr. Chatchai, and Mr. Ekaphon, the former monk Phra Maha Ekaphon. They faced charges under multiple sections of the Criminal Code and anti-corruption legislation, including money laundering and technology crime laws. The court mandated that all five defendants jointly return 28,050,000 baht.
The prosecution alleged that from March 2021 to September 2024, Defendant 1, exploited his position at the temple to embezzle funds by making unauthorized withdrawals from nine temple bank accounts. Defendants 2 through 5 allegedly aided in these activities, which involved 20 counts of embezzlement totaling 28,050,000 baht. The defendants were accused of conspiring to launder money derived from these offenses. Defendant 1 was found to have delegated withdrawal authority to temple officials to transfer funds from the temple's accounts to his personal accounts. Subsequently, Defendant 2, in concert with Defendants 3 through 5, moved the funds into their accounts, ultimately ending up in Defendant 2's account.
Additionally, from March 2023 to September 2024, Defendant 4 was accused of facilitating the loan of a bank passbook and ATM card to Defendant 1, which were used in committing technology-related crimes. Defendant 1 initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea, while Defendants 2 through 5 initially pleaded not guilty.
After reviewing the evidence, the court found Defendants 1, 2, 3, and 5 guilty under several legal provisions, including the Criminal Code and anti-corruption laws. The court sentenced Defendant 1 and 2 each to 50 years, Defendant 3 to 12 years and 12 months, and Defendant 5 to 8 years and 8 months in prison. They were also ordered to return various sums of money to Wat Rai Khing. Defendant 4 was acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking him to the crimes. Other charges and requests against the defendants were dismissed.