The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases sentenced former monk Alongkorn to 742 years in prison and Doctor B to 386 years and 1,480 months for embezzling donations from Phra Bat Nam Phu Temple. Due to their cooperation, each received the maximum 50-year sentence allowed by law and were ordered to repay over 300 million baht.
The Anti-Corruption Division police arrested former monk Rajavisutthiprachanat, known as former monk Alongkorn, former abbot of Phra Bat Nam Phu Temple in Lopburi Province, along with Mr. Seksan Sapsuebskul, also known as Doctor B, a spirit medium. They were found to have embezzled and fraudulently used donated funds continuously over several years.
During follow-up investigations and searches, authorities seized assets acquired from the crimes, including real estate, luxury cars, and cash totaling hundreds of millions of baht. Although both denied charges and claimed the funds were used for temple management, financial evidence gathered by investigators and the Anti-Money Laundering Office indicated possible offenses, leading to multiple serious charges filed in court.
On 7 Oct 2025 at 10:00, the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases delivered judgment in case number Thor Thor 203/2568. The Public Prosecutor from the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Anti-Corruption Cases 3 charged Rajavisutthiprachanat (Alongkorn Tikkapanyo), or Mr. Alongkorn Phoolmook, as defendant 1, and Mr. Seksan Sapsuebskul, aka Doctor B, as defendant 2, under Criminal Code sections 147 and 157, and money laundering laws. They were accused of embezzling and misappropriating donated funds intended for the temple’s patient care and activities for personal gain, as well as jointly committing money laundering.
At the sentencing hearing, the plaintiff’s representative, both defendants, and their lawyers appeared in court.
The court ruled defendant 1 committed multiple distinct offenses. He was sentenced to six years per count for embezzling as a public official entrusted with property, plus three years for money laundering. Considering his helpful testimony, the court reduced sentences by one-third to four years per count for embezzlement, totaling 185 counts and 740 years, plus two years for money laundering, totaling 742 years.
Defendant 2 was sentenced to four years per count for aiding a public official in embezzlement, and three years per count for money laundering. Due to his helpful testimony, sentences were reduced by one-third to two years and eight months per count for embezzlement, totaling 185 counts and 370 years and 1,480 months, and two years per count for eight counts of money laundering, totaling 16 years, summing to 386 years and 480 months.
However, under Criminal Code section 91 (3), both defendants were each sentenced to a maximum of 50 years in prison and ordered to jointly repay 306,026,143.5 baht to Phra Bat Nam Phu Temple as restitution to the victim.