# Thai police arrest Buddhist abbot suspected of embezzling $2.8m

https://mins.news/en/item/54809

- The Guardian, 2026-09-11 15:01 UTC
- Society
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/11/thai-police-arrest-buddhist-abbot-suspicion-embezzling

> Thai police arrested Phra Wachirayan Wi, the 66-year-old abbot of Ayutthaya’s Wat Phutthaisawan, on charges including allegedly embezzling about $2.8m intended for the temple and money laundering. A 47-year-old woman accused of helping conceal the funds was also detained. Authorities seized assets worth about 215m baht, and the abbot was defrocked after his arrest.

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