Reform temples, or lose public faith

Temple corruption no longer raises eyebrows. The Wat Rai Khing scandal is just bigger, louder, and harder to ignore. It demands serious reform before public faith erodes further.

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Phra Dhamma Vajiranuwat (Yaem Inkrungkao), 70, the former abbot of Wat Rai Khing, has been defrocked. A high-ranking monk in the clergy’s feudal hierarchy with honorary degrees in Buddhism, he now faces criminal charge of embezzling temple funds to support a 28-year-old lover allegedly linked to online gambling.

The numbers are staggering. Initial estimates put the damage at 300 million baht. But the Central Investigation Bureau now says the embezzled funds — circulating across 84 bank accounts — could reach 2 billion baht. More details on wealth accumulation and fraud related to the former abbot and his cronies are gradually emerging in the media.

Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom is among the most popular temples in Thailand. With a famous eye hospital enhancing its image, the temple receives over 1 million baht in donations daily — not counting income from amulets, fairs, stalls, and fundraising events. Like many temples these days, Wat Rai Khing focuses on drawing public donations. Nearly 200 donation boxes line the grounds for various “temple expenses” and monks’ welfare.

When the scandal broke, police found the former abbot had stopped allocating donation money to the eye hospital. Instead, large sums were funnelled into his personal accounts — and then to his lover.