[ad_1]
Seven Buddhist monks are amongst 9 suspects who’re being held in pre-trial detention after being arrested for allegedly embezzling belongings value about 300 million baht ($8.9 million) from donations obtained by a temple in Thailand’s northeast, authorities stated Thursday.
The Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases stated the actions of the ringleaders within the case ‘gravely undermined Buddhism.’
Five monks and a driver have been despatched to pre-trial detention on Thursday, in line with a press release from the court docket, situated in Bangkok. They have been arrested on the temple, Wat Pa Thammakhiri in Nakhon Ratchasima province, on Tuesday when police staged an early morning raid and uncovered property value about 100 million baht ($2.9 million) allegedly hidden by the suspects.
Cash, jewellery and amulets have been discovered in lots of spots, together with the monks’ personal quarters, police stated. Some objects have been buried underground.
The first arrests within the case occurred final Friday, when police took into custody the temple abbot and a well-known monk, Kom Kongkaew, who have been accused of stealing over 180 million baht ($5.3 million) of the temple’s cash.
Kom, his sister, and the abbot have been denied bail Monday. The court docket stated that after he was taken into custody, Kom instructed the six suspects arrested this week to cover the property that have been found by police. The court docket deemed all 9 to be flight dangers who may tamper with proof.
Police stated the abbot, Wutthima Thaomor, advised them that Kom suggested the monks to make use of among the stolen funds to buy jewellery.
The abbot, together with Kom and his sister, are accused of taking the donation cash by withdrawing money from the temple’s checking account and handing it over to be deposited within the sister’s checking account, during which police found 130 million baht ($3.8 million). Another 51 million baht ($1.5 million) in money was discovered at her dwelling.
Some Buddhist temples in Thailand are extraordinarily rich as a result of their followers donate giant quantities as a manner of constructing non secular advantage.
(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; solely the picture & headline could have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Published:
[adinserter block=”4″]
[ad_2]
Source link