The verdict has been announced: "Tid Yaem" and "Sika Ken" sentenced to 50 years in prison and ordered to jointly pay 27.9 million baht in compensation to Wat Rai Khing.

The Criminal Court for Corruption Cases has handed down a verdict, sentencing "Tid Yaem," the former abbot of Wat Rai Khing, and "Sika Ken" to 50 years in prison and ordering them to jointly repay 27,950,000 baht to Wat Rai Khing. 

At the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, on April 21, 2026, the court scheduled the reading of the verdict in case number AT 144/2568, in which the Public Prosecutor's Office, Anti-Corruption Division 1, filed charges against Phra Tham Wachiranuwat, also known as Phra Thep Sasanaphiban. The defendants, Phra Ratchawiriyalangkarn, also known as Mr. Yaem Inthrakrungkao or Tid Yaem, the former abbot of Wat Rai Khing; Ms. Aranyawan or Ken Wangthaphan; Mrs. Phachaphon or Toey Seeliang or Phassarayuwatt; Mr. Chatchai Seeliang or Inthamee, Defendant No. 4; and Mr. Ekaphon or Phra Maha Ekaphon Phukhang, Defendants No. 1-5, are charged with offenses under Sections 83, 86, 91, 147, and 157 of the Criminal Code; Section 172 of the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Corruption B.E. 2561; Sections 3, 5, 9, and 60 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542; and Section 10 of the Emergency Decree on Prevention and Suppression of Technological Crime B.E. 2566. The court ordered all five defendants to jointly return the sum of 28,050,000 baht to Wat Rai Khing Royal Temple, the injured party. 

The plaintiff alleges that, at the time of the incident, Defendant 1, the abbot of Wat Rai Khing Royal Temple, was a public official under the Criminal Code, Section 45 of the Sangha Act B.E. 2505 (1962), and a government official under Section 4 of the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Corruption B.E. 2561 (2018). Defendants 2 through 5 did not hold the status of public officials. 

Between March 15, 2021, and September 16, 2024, Defendant 1, taking advantage of his position as abbot of Wat Rai Khing Royal Temple, the victim, embezzled funds by withdrawing money from nine bank accounts belonging to the temple. Defendants 2 through 5 assisted in this scheme, committing 20 offenses totaling 28,050,000 baht. All five defendants conspired to launder money and jointly laundered money obtained from the underlying offenses on multiple occasions over several years.  

The circumstances of the offense are as follows: Defendant 1, who had the authority to withdraw money from the Wat Rai Khing temple's bank account, would delegate authority to temple officials or employees to withdraw or transfer money from the temple's account into Defendant 1's bank account. Subsequently, Defendants 2 through 5 jointly siphoned off the temple's funds by transferring money from Defendant 1's account to the accounts of Defendants 2 through 5, with the final destination being Defendant 2's bank account. The incident occurred in Rai Khing Subdistrict, Sam Phran District, Nakhon Pathom Province.

Defendant 1 initially pleaded not guilty, but later withdrew that plea and pleaded guilty. Defendants 2 through 5 initially pleaded not guilty.

The case involves determining whether Defendant 1, a public official with the duty to purchase, manage, or safeguard property, misappropriated that property for himself or others, and whether Defendants 2 through 5 acted as accomplices in the crime. The investigation did not reveal that the five defendants met to plan the crime; therefore, each count must be considered individually. It was found that Defendant 1 sometimes transferred money directly to Defendant 2, and at other times transferred money through Defendants 3 and 5, with the recipient account being Defendant 2's bank account, on a total of 19 occasions, amounting to 27,450,000 baht. 

Since Defendant No. 1 confessed, it can be established that Defendant No. 1 committed the offense of being a public official with the duty to purchase, manage, or safeguard any property, and fraudulently misappropriating that property for himself or others, under Section 147 of the Criminal Code, totaling 19 counts. 

Defendants 2, 3, and 5 were not government officials or public officers who participated in the crime with Defendant 1. Therefore, they are considered accomplices in Defendant 1's crimes, with Defendant 2 accompliceing in 18 counts, Defendant 3 accompliceing in 3 counts, and Defendant 5 accompliceing in 2 counts. As for Defendant 4, the investigation did not reveal any involvement or accomplicehood in the crimes.  

The next issue to be decided is whether the five defendants conspired together with two or more people to commit the crime of money laundering. It is seen that the actions of defendants 1, 2, 3 and 5 are a basic offense under the Anti-Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542, Section 3(5) (18). 

The investigation revealed that after Defendant 1 embezzled funds from Wat Rai Khing, the victim, Defendant 1 transferred, possessed, and used the assets jointly with Defendants 2, 3, and 5. Defendant 1 committed one count of money laundering alone; Defendants 1 and 2 conspired together to commit 13 counts of money laundering; Defendants 1, 2, and 3 jointly committed three counts; and Defendants 1, 2, and 5 jointly committed two counts. The investigation did not find evidence that Defendant 4 participated in the conspiracy. Defendants 1, 2, 3, and 5 are ordered to repay the money to Wat Rai Khing, the victim. 

The court ruled that defendants 1, 2, 3, and 5 committed multiple separate offenses, and sentenced them for each offense separately, in accordance with Section 91 of the Criminal Code. Defendant 1 was sentenced to 50 years imprisonment, defendant 2 to 50 years imprisonment, defendant 3 to 12 years and 12 months imprisonment, and defendant 5 to 8 years and 8 months imprisonment. 

The court ordered Defendant 1 to return 27,950,000 baht, Defendant 2 to jointly return 27,450,000 baht, Defendant 3 to jointly return 2,850,000 baht, and Defendant 5 to jointly return 5,100,000 baht to Wat Rai Khing, the injured party. The case against Defendant 4 was dismissed, and all other charges and requests were dropped.