Thai police have arrested a Buddhist monk accused of embezzling 100 million baht (NZ$5.2 million) from his monastery, along with a female accomplice who he was filmed having sex with.
Phra Wachirayan Wi, a 66-year-old former abbot at the prominent 14th-Century Wat Phutthaisawan in the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, was arrested on Thursday after police found cash and gold bars at his residence, a Thai news outlet reports.
Police said they identified two streams of money linked to donations made for renovations, amulets and other sacred objects through receipts Wachirayan issued in the temple's name.
Reports said lead police investigator Pattanasak Bupphasuwan told a news conference "the money from both streams did not enter the temple's account. Not a single baht".
Police said they also seized 35 gold amulets and around 1.5kg of gold bars and jewellery, worth an estimated 6.04 million baht (NZ$314,000) from a woman's home, who was suspected to have helped him.
A clip of Wachirayan having sex with the woman, identified as 47-year-old Punyavee Rungrueang, on his dining table was found while examining CCTV footage, according to police.
Rungrueang was arrested for allegedly aiding a state official in illegal activity. Buddhist monks take vows of celibacy and renounce material possessions, and many are considered state officials because they receive government stipends.
Wachirayan was defrocked after his arrest, and neither of the pair has made a comment publicly.
Investigators said two or three others may also be involved in the case.
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