Buriram: Keep an eye on the famous temple in the Northeast, repeating the mistakes of Wat Rai Khing. After the abbot of Wat Rai Khing was embroiled in a scandal involving embezzlement, which led to legal action and his dismissal from monkhood, there is renewed attention on two famous temples in the Northeast with similar behaviors and no action taken against them.
According to Thai News Agency, the Crime Suppression Division had previously dealt with Wat Rai Khing following reports by the popular page CSI LA. Now, attention has shifted to a temple in Maha Sarakham Province, allegedly used as a site for laundering money from a gambling website by a group known as 'Young Prosperous People.' The deputy abbot of this temple has been in the spotlight for making payments without hesitation to a female follower, with social media leaks of clips and photos since last year. Calls for a thorough investigation have been made, urging authorities not to overlook significant players. Reports include images of monks making monetary offerings.
When reporters investigated the implicated forest temple, they found Buddhists continuing to make merit. A booth for renting amulets, owned by a renowned amulet expert, was observed, although it was covered. Villagers interviewed expressed that the temple's lack of knowledge about the donation sources did not affect their faith.
In Buriram Province, rumors have circulated about a preaching abbot involved in gambling activities. Three messages shared on Facebook by a monk suggest the abbot was chased for gambling debts incurred from playing baccarat. Despite preaching to laity, the abbot allegedly used temple funds for gambling. A reporter's investigation in Tambon Song Chan, Amphoe Krasang, revealed that junior monks were unaware of gambling activities but acknowledged rumors about the abbot's involvement in baccarat. Concerns were raised regarding the abbot's frequent absences from the temple.
The reporter sought to verify these claims and visited another temple where the accused abbot was staying. The abbot denied any involvement in gambling or misuse of temple funds, which are managed by a committee. He asserted that all financial matters, including those related to temple alms and offerings, were handled appropriately.