Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has come under renewed public attention after images resurfaced of him displaying a gold amulet made by a former abbot arrested on September 10 over alleged temple-fund fraud.

Phra Wachirayan Wi, 66, better known as Luang Pho Atichot Dhammawaro, was formerly the abbot of Phuthaisawan Temple. Police allege he misappropriated more than 92 million baht from temple funds.

Former abbot leaves monkhood

Atichot was arrested on September 10 and formally left the monkhood that afternoon. The case has also drawn attention because of his relationship with Punyawee, 47, a woman who worked at the temple.

Picture courtesy of DailyNews

CCTV footage from the monk's quarters reportedly showed the pair engaging in sexual activity on multiple occasions, including on a table at the temple. Punyawee was also arrested and taken to the Crime Suppression Division for questioning after police found that temple funds had been transferred into her bank accounts.

The allegations remain under police investigation, but the case has put a spotlight on the former abbot's highly sought-after Buddhist amulets.

PM had called pendant Thai soft power

Atichot's best-known creation was the Nuea Duang amulet, meaning "beyond fate", which has reportedly been valued at up to three million baht.

Anutin owns a Nuea Duang amulet and had previously worn it to work. Photographs of him showing the pendant to journalists in October last year were reposted online following the former abbot's arrest.

At the time, Anutin was deputy prime minister and interior minister. Speaking about Thai soft power, he presented the Buddha amulet as an example of the country's craftsmanship.

The prime minister removed and displayed his necklace, explaining that the pendant illustrated Thai handiwork. He also pointed out its adjustable cord, which allowed the amulet to slide up and down.

According to local media, the solid-gold Nuea Duang depicts Jatukham Rammathep, revered guardian deities associated with Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat. It was released in 2006 to mark Phuthaisawan Temple's elevation to royal-monastery status.

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11 September 2026

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NOB seeks destruction of table in Ayutthaya abbot case

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

Thailand's National Office of Buddhism (NOB) has asked police to destroy a dining table from Phutthaisawan Temple in Ayutthaya after it appeared in explicit security footage involving the temple's former abbot.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) seized the table during a search of the monks' quarters on September 10. Officers said it was removed at the NOB's request, rather than as evidence in the separate embezzlement investigation.

Former abbot arrested over alleged temple losses

CIB officers arrested the temple's 66-year-old abbot, Phra wWachirayan Wi, over alleged embezzlement said to have caused the temple losses of 92 million baht.

Police identified a 47-year-old Thai woman, Punyawee, who worked at the temple, as being involved in the alleged embezzlement. She was also reportedly found to have been in a sexual relationship with Atichot.

The relationship emerged while officers were investigating the temple's finances. Security camera recordings from the monks' accommodation showed the pair engaging in sexual activity in the kitchen and on a round dining table in the abbot's quarters.

The footage was later widely circulated on Thai social media, drawing public criticism and intensifying attention on the case.

Buddhism office calls table inauspicious

Police took the dining table to their division office after the September 10 search, prompting public questions over how it was linked to the financial allegations.

Officers later said the NOB wanted it destroyed because it was considered deeply inauspicious and unsuitable to remain at a royal temple. The office also feared its continued presence could deter worshippers from visiting Phutthaisawan Temple to make merit.

The NOB was additionally concerned that people might come to the temple simply to see the table following the viral footage, rather than for religious purposes.

Amulet sellers offer refunds

The decision to remove the table has been criticised online. Many netizens argued that the object itself was not responsible for the alleged wrongdoing, which they said concerned those involved in the case.

The controversy has also affected valuable Buddha amulets made by the former abbot. Among the most discussed is the Nuea Duang amulet, which originally sold for more than 3 million baht.

Several amulet experts and collectors who originally sold the items said they would accept returned amulets made under the former abbot's name and refund customers.

11 September 2026

It should be that a monk is a specific "occupation" and therefor there must be strict rules. In Thailand it seems that everybody can become a monk, even if there is a police record. This abbot is an example that he has violated the Buddhism rules more than once. But where is the control of NOB? It should be impossible for individual monks to have money, as as a symbol when they enter the temple they throw away THB to show that they don't need anything, but as soon as they are a monk they get money. All money should be for the temple, not for the individual monks.

Monks who can't behave in what way, such as drinking, sex, drugs etc should be banned from monkhood.

Again there must be enforcement of rules, as now we can read several times about misbehaviors.

How is it possible to preach that alcohol must be banned on Buddhist days as you have monks behaving like this, and have sex, drugs, or are drinking or even driving cars??

This abbot installed 60 cctv around the temple to alert him from anyone approaching his hut.

If not for the whistle blower tip off, he'll still be enjoying his honeymoon.

According to local news, more than 700 mil baht has been embezzled.