Crime Suppression Police raided former Monk Atichot’s quarters and have counted only about 70% of the seized items in the case. Preliminary assets, including cash and other valuables, are estimated to be worth more than 20 million baht. Meanwhile, a former committee member of Phutthaisawan Temple revealed that after former Monk Atichot became abbot, he pressured the previous temple committee to resign and replaced them with his acquaintances or close associates.
On 10 September 2026, the news team had the opportunity to speak with Phuyai Chid, a former village headman of Village No. 8 and former committee member of Phutthaisawan Temple. He disclosed that he had been a temple committee member since 1999 during the tenure of Luang Pu Hon as abbot. After Luang Pu Hon passed away, former Monk Atichot was appointed as acting abbot.
It was found that former Monk Atichot is originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province and came to Phutthaisawan Temple to practice meditation wearing white robes. After about one month, he was ordained as a monk within the temple. From what is known, no other temple was willing to ordain him due to previous legal disputes regarding sacred objects originating from southern Thailand.
In the past, I had the chance to discuss Dhamma with former Monk Atichot and found him to be polite, humble, and well-spoken. He was known as a fortune teller and consecrator of amulets.
Later, when Luang Pu Hon, the previous abbot, passed away, former Monk Atichot assumed the abbot position around 2022. Subsequently, he removed all the former temple committee members without explanation and replaced them with his acquaintances or close associates as the new committee.
I have never met the female devotee seen in the video clip, so I don’t know who she is or where she came from.
Meanwhile, after Crime Suppression Police brought the steward of Phutthaisawan Temple for questioning at the Crime Suppression Division headquarters from 3 p.m. for over four hours, he left the premises. Reporters tried to ask whether the steward knew about any wrongdoing by former Monk Atichot and the female devotee “Ae,” whether former Monk Atichot had confided or complained about involvement with the female devotee.
They also asked if he knew about the 92 million baht embezzlement—if the steward had ever counted that money—and inquired how long the female devotee “Ae” had been at the temple and if he had witnessed anything. However, the steward refused to answer any questions.
Police stated that they want the process to proceed officially and that today they summoned the steward of Phutthaisawan Temple only as a witness for questioning.
Reports say that recently, Crime Suppression Police mobilized officers to inventory seized cash and valuables inside former Monk Atichot’s quarters. So far, only about 70% of the assets have been counted. Preliminary estimations of cash and various valuables exceed 20 million baht. He is expected to be brought to the Crime Suppression Division for further interrogation after midnight.