Ordained for two Buddhist Lent seasons, Wat Pa Chana Jai has raised funds covering over 1,000 rai. The Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) led by 'Big Turtle' conducted an inspection but found the abbot absent. Officials confirmed clear maps showing forest encroachment. There are suspicions regarding purchases of monastery buildings costing hundreds of thousands of baht, and many donation receipts are not valid for tax deductions.
Today (18 Feb 2026), the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), under Secretary-General Phumvisan Kasemsuk and Deputy Secretary Siripong Sritula, together with officers from the Anti-Corruption Operations Division and PACC Region 1, partnered with Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commander of Central Investigation Bureau, Police Major General Anek Taosupap, Commander of the Department of Special Investigation, Police Major General Prasong Chalapan, Commander of the Anti-Corruption Division, the Royal Forest Department, the National Office of Buddhism, the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission in Saraburi, and the Saraburi Land Reform Office to inspect the land status of Wat Pa Raksa Jai, Ariya Village, Wat Pa Chana Jai, the International Buddhist Sanctuary Raksa Jai, and Pha Chana Jai in Nong Yang Suea Subdistrict, Muak Lek District, overlapping Wang Muang District, Saraburi Province.
During the raid, Police Major General Jaroonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, and PACC officers executed a search warrant at Wat Pa Chana Jai following reports of unauthorized use of Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) land. Initial findings revealed fundraising for merit-making through online media to finance construction on the site. Although complaints were previously filed, the case had made no progress. At the time of inspection, the abbot, ordained for two Buddhist Lent seasons, was absent and represented by a lawyer. Officials preliminarily found the temple occupying over 1,000 rai.
Kritsakorn Sanit Sakdee, an inspector from the National Office of Buddhism, stated that Kruba Chaiwat, who oversees the site, began his ordination in 2023, originally affiliated with Loei Province. He then relocated to this location. However, the Saraburi Provincial Sangha Authority has not authorized his affiliation. He initially received 13 rai of land, which expanded through donations to over 1,000 rai.
This land has not been properly registered, and the 12 monks residing there are not affiliated with the Saraburi Province Sangha. All monks have been ordered to return to their original locations, and those who do not comply may face defrocking.
Today, the abbot's residence and the areas reported to be encroaching on forest land were surveyed. Heavy machinery was found being used for construction and road building, which violates legal land use. Additionally, some donation receipts cannot be used for tax deductions because the registrations are not in order.
The PACC received tips from locals that Wat Pa Chana Jai, led by Kruba Chaiwat (ordained on 19 March 2023, originally from Wat Si Sutthawas in Mueang District, Loei Province), claimed leadership over monks and nuns who occupied and encroached on forest areas in the region. Prior complaints have been filed without progress, and encroachment, land alteration, and ongoing construction continue.
Investigations revealed that Wat Pa Raksa Jai has solicited donations to alter land, build roads, and clear trees from public areas such as roadside public land to beautify the temple grounds. Heavy machinery was brought in to level land suitable for construction, pushing trees aside to create forest roads and modify terrain. Fundraising was conducted via Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, inviting donors to purchase monastery buildings or spaces for meditation practice at 500,000 baht each. The temple constructed a 10-kilometer access road to the International Buddhist Sanctuary Wat Pa Raksa Jai valued at 3.3 million baht. Most activities, including construction and land alteration, took place on Agricultural Land Reform Office land without permission.
During the inspection, Point 1, Wat Pa Raksa Jai, is situated on 13 rai of Agricultural Land Reform Office land. The registered land user listed in document Sor Por Kor 4-01 is not utilizing the land; the temple occupied it starting in 2023 and constructed additional buildings beyond the original authorization. Points 2 to 4 (Ariya Village, Wat Pa Chana Jai, the International Buddhist Sanctuary Raksa Jai, and Pha Chana Jai) are on Agricultural Land Reform Office land with no authorized users. The occupants have engaged in construction, deforestation, and use of heavy machinery to modify the hilly terrain without permission.
Legally, the temple's occupants are trespassing on Agricultural Land Reform Office land under the 1975 ALRO Act and its amendments, violating Section 54 of the 1941 Forestry Act. The temple is not legally recognized as a juristic person. The working group classifies it as an unauthorized forest monastery without proper approval from the Sangha supervisory authority, engaging in construction without compliance with the Building Permit Act.
Photo: Saran Pongsawat
