Thai monk who was caught on temple CCTV having sex with his lover confesses to two-year relationship – as cops discover haul of jewellery and cash worth £5million
A senior Thai Buddhist monk, Phra Wachirayan Wi, has confessed to a two-year affair with a woman after CCTV footage of the pair having sex inside his temple residence was widely broadcast on Thai media. The 66-year-old abbot of the 14th-century Wat Phutthaisawan temple in Ayutthaya was arrested alongside the 47-year-old woman on charges including embezzlement and money laundering, in a case that has deepened public concern over financial misconduct within Thailand's clergy following a string of similar scandals.
Police say the sums involved have grown substantially since the investigation began in mid-July, following an anonymous tip-off, with the total now estimated at 215 million baht (£4.8 million), alongside seized gold, jewellery, gemstones and land deeds. Investigators found that donations totalling roughly £2million intended for temple renovations and amulet sales never reached the temple's official accounts. The woman is accused of helping to convert and conceal the funds. The abbot, previously well known for producing amulets worn by prominent figures including the prime minister, has been defrocked and has not commented publicly.
- Thai abbot admits two-year affair after temple sex tape leaks
- Police uncover £4.8million in misappropriated temple donations
- Case is latest in a series of Thai monastic financial scandals
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Thailand's Buddhist clergy is deeply respected and closely tied to public life, so allegations against senior monks tend to draw heavy scrutiny. Phra Wachirayan Wi was the abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan, a temple dating back to the 14th century in Ayutthaya, and had a public profile of his own thanks to amulets he produced that were worn by well-known figures, including the prime minister.
The case began after an anonymous tip in mid-July prompted police to investigate the temple's finances. That inquiry uncovered CCTV footage showing the abbot with a woman inside his temple residence, alongside evidence that donations meant for renovations and amulet sales had gone missing from official accounts.
The affair matters largely because monks in Thailand are expected to observe strict vows of celibacy, so any breach is seen as a serious breach of religious discipline. The financial allegations are separate but connected, forming part of a wider pattern of scandals involving money and misconduct among Thai clergy in recent years, which has fuelled public debate about oversight of temple funds.