The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct acquitted former Nakhon Sawan provincial chief monk Thid Sarit in a case involving the embezzlement of over 4 million baht from temple funds, while the court's chief judge issued a dissenting opinion.
At 10:00 a.m. on 5 May 2026, at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct, the court read its verdict in a case where the Anti-Corruption Division 1 of the public prosecutor's office sued Mr. Sarit Chanprathat, also known as former monk Dhammavajirathirakun Sarit Chanprathat, the former provincial chief monk of Nakhon Sawan and abbot of Nakhon Sawan temple, and Ms. Phuthinee Kiewpitak as defendants one and two. They were charged with embezzlement as public officials and dereliction of duty causing damage, or corrupt performance or non-performance of duty, involving embezzlement of over 4 million baht from Nakhon Sawan temple.
The prosecution alleged that both defendants conspired to misappropriate funds belonging to Nakhon Sawan temple, the victim. The temple had a deposit account at Krungthai Bank, Sawanvithi Road branch, under the name Nakhon Sawan Temple, with authorized signatories including defendant one and two other temple officials. Withdrawal required signatures from two of three authorized persons, including the abbot of Nakhon Sawan temple. The defendants planned together to transfer funds from the temple's account to defendant two's account by agreed methods, totaling 49 transactions amounting to 4,965,087 baht. The prosecution requested punishment under the law and restitution of the embezzled money to the victim.
Both defendants denied the allegations.
After considering the evidence, the court found that Nakhon Sawan temple borrowed money from defendant one. The transfers were repayments under a loan agreement whereby the temple owed defendant one money. After offsetting debts, the temple still owed defendant one. Therefore, the transfers into defendant one's bank account were lawful and not illegal transfers. Defendant one thus had no obligation to repay the temple. The acts of defendant one were not offenses as charged. Since defendant one's actions were not offenses, defendant two could not be considered an accomplice. Other issues were unnecessary to consider as they would not affect the case outcome.
The court acquitted the defendants and dismissed the civil claims.
However, Mr. Thanarat Thungthong, Chief Judge of the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct, filed a dissenting opinion at the end of the verdict. He noted contradictions in defendant one's testimony and that claims the large sums were general temple expenses were unsupported by evidence. Defendant two testified that defendant one transferred money to defendant two, indicating defendant one had fraudulently used temple funds for personal benefit. The prosecution's evidence established beyond doubt that defendant one, exploiting his position, embezzled temple funds through 38 transactions totaling 2,136,047 baht. The dissenting judge recommended convicting defendant one of offenses under Penal Code Section 147 and the Anti-Corruption Act 2018 Section 172 for multiple counts totaling 38 charges. The investigation was somewhat helpful, so he suggested reducing the sentence by one-third and ordering defendant one to return 2,136,047 baht to Nakhon Sawan temple as restitution. For defendant two, he agreed with the acquittal due to insufficient evidence.