Crime Three Former Officials of the National Office of Buddhism Found Guilty of Embezzlement

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has ruled that three former officials of the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) unlawfully amassed wealth exceeding 50 million baht through embezzlement of state funds intended for temple support. The NACC has ordered the confiscation of assets and has submitted the cases for prosecution.

 

Mr Saroj Phuengrumpan, Secretary-General and spokesperson of the NACC, announced that the commission had received complaints and initiated investigations into suspicious wealth accumulation by former state officials under the NOB. The probe revealed extensive irregularities, leading to formal findings of unusual wealth and legal proceedings.

 

Case 1: Mr Phattana Suammartmontri

 

A former senior religious academic officer, Mr Phattana was found to possess unexplained wealth totalling 24,973,519 baht. The assets, believed to result from abuse of official duties, include:

 

• Bank accounts (8 in total) holding over 23.2 million baht, with major deposits in Krung Thai Bank branches, Bangkok Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, Government Savings Bank, and Kasikornbank.

• A Toyota Vios vehicle, valued at over 640,000 baht.

• A loan of 300,000 baht extended to an associate.

• A 100-square-wah plot of land in Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom, bought for 400,000 baht.

• House construction on the same land, valued at 420,000 baht.

 

The NACC has referred the case to the Attorney General, requesting legal proceedings before the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases and recommending Mr Phattana’s dismissal from public service within 60 days under the Organic Act on Anti-Corruption B.E. 2561, Section 122.

 

Case 2: Ms Pornphen Kittitharangkool

 

Former director of the Department of General Education in Monastic Schools, Ms Pornphen was found to have amassed 12,818,335 baht in unexplained wealth, including:

 

• Seven bank accounts with combined deposits exceeding 10 million baht.

• Two land plots in Bang Yai District, Nonthaburi, worth 800,000 baht.

• Mortgage repayments to the Government Housing Bank amounting to nearly 1 million baht.

 

Similar to Mr Phattana’s case, the NACC has referred Ms Pornphen’s case to the Attorney General and recommended her dismissal from government service.

 

Case 3: Ms Jurairat Meesiri

 

Previously employed in public relations under the NOB, Ms Jurairat was found to have unlawfully accumulated 10,863,181 baht, comprising:

 

• Six bank accounts, including those in the name of her spouse, totalling millions of baht.

• Suspicious vehicle finance repayments for three different cars.

• Loan settlements with Government Savings Bank and Government Housing Bank, with inconsistent payment patterns.

 

Her case has also been forwarded to the Attorney General. If full asset seizure is not possible, additional asset enforcement may be pursued within 10 years under Section 125 of the Anti-Corruption Act.

 

All three cases highlight systemic corruption within the NOB. The NACC has emphasised its zero-tolerance policy towards abuse of public office and has reiterated its commitment to recover state assets and restore public trust.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-29.

 

 

 

[blaze master]

Oh my Buddha.

 

 

Is anyone actually surprised.

[watchcat]

44 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

The NACC has ordered the confiscation of assets and has submitted the cases for prosecution.

 

About time!

[ozz1]

They are as bad as the rtp

[mran66]

On 5/29/2025 at 5:36 AM, ozz1 said:

They are as bad as the rtp

 

 

Actually worse as Thais in general  still seem to respect the temples and monks whereas all know about police being corrupt. 

 

Milking the brainwashed as middle ages in Europe.