The Anti-Corruption Police have arrested the former abbot of a famous forest temple in Ratchaburi who embezzled over 400,000 baht from the Kathin donation fund, leaving only 12.78 baht in the account. He was also involved in a drunken big motorcycle crash causing injury before fleeing to work as a security guard. He confessed that while still wearing the saffron robes, he secretly went out drinking in bars located in Kanchanaburi and Nakhon Pathom provinces multiple times.
On 16 June 2026, Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, ordered Pol. Maj. Gen. Prasong Chalermphan, Commander of the Anti-Corruption Division, along with Pol. Col. Supoj Poomyaem, Acting Superintendent of Division 5, and Pol. Lt. Col. Klakon Ruamrung, Deputy Superintendent of Division 5, to lead a team to arrest Mr. Thanakorn Inklaew, also known as Lek or Phra Kru Palat Thanakorn Rakkhittasilo, former abbot of Wat Pa Wimuttayaram in Ban Pong District, Ratchaburi Province, aged 57, under a warrant from the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 7, case number J 47/2569, dated 10 June 2026.
He is charged with "being a public official responsible for purchasing, managing, or safeguarding property and fraudulently misappropriating that property, whether belonging to himself or others; performing or neglecting duties improperly to cause damage to others; and abusing his position or authority as a state official to cause harm or corruptly neglecting duties." The arrest took place at a housing estate in Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province.
This arrest followed events on 23 October 2022 when Wat Pa Wimuttayaram held its Kathin ceremony, receiving donations totaling 438,912.78 baht. Around noon, the money was deposited into the temple’s account at Siam Commercial Bank, Lotus Ban Pong branch. Later, at approximately 4 p.m. that day, the abbot and his driver withdrew funds until only 12.78 baht remained. The abbot then disappeared from the temple. On the night of 24 October 2022, news emerged that the abbot, disguised as a layman, had been drinking alcohol and riding a big motorcycle when he crashed and was treated at Nakhon Pathom Hospital. After that, no further news was received.
Subsequently, officers from Division 5 of the Anti-Corruption Police received complaints from the temple’s committee and investigated the misconduct concerning his official duties. They gathered evidence and submitted it to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which agreed to prosecute and assigned the Anti-Corruption Police to proceed under criminal law. After obtaining a warrant, the police learned the former abbot had fled and was working as a security guard at a housing estate in Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province, leading to his arrest.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted to secretly leaving the temple, changing into layman clothes, and traveling by car and big motorcycle to bars in Kanchanaburi and Nakhon Pathom provinces multiple times. He also acknowledged having been involved in a drunken driving accident and arrested for drunk driving while still serving as abbot. He was then handed over to the investigators of Division 5, Anti-Corruption Police, to proceed with legal action.