Abbot's departure from Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu officially sanctioned
Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu, a temple located in Lop Buri's Muang district, has found itself at the centre of a significant financial scandal. The investigation has implicated Seksan "Mor Bee" Sapsubbsakul, a well-known spiritual medium and fundraiser for the temple, in embezzling or misusing donations intended for the temple's HIV/AIDS charities.
Seksan, who was authorized in 2019 to open a donation account to support the temple, is accused of making large cash withdrawals from the account. The amounts withdrawn often exceeded the donations handed over to the temple, raising suspicions among investigators. Seksan has claimed that the withdrawals were made at the abbot's request, but the former abbot, Luang Por Alongkot, denies this, stating it was Seksan's own initiative.
The investigation has also uncovered another major issue: the temple’s purchase of over 760 acres of land using donated funds. However, the land was registered under a private individual, a relative of the late temple manager, rather than the temple. This has raised concerns about the misuse of charitable funds, though the individual has expressed a willingness to transfer the land back to the temple.
Luang Por Alongkot, who had long been praised for his humanitarian work supporting HIV/AIDS patients, resigned amid the scandal. Both he and Seksan were arrested in late August 2025 on charges including embezzlement, dereliction of duty, and money laundering. The investigations are ongoing, with officials calling for transparency and cooperation as they uncover what is described as one of the largest religious financial scandals in Thai history involving billions of baht in misappropriated funds.
The resignation of Luang Por Alongkot was approved by the Lop Buri monastic chief on August 19, 2023. Luang Por Alongkot later clarified that his resignation had not yet been formalized. The approval of his resignation was in accordance with the Sangha Supreme Act.
Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu, a temple known for its charitable work, now finds itself embroiled in a significant scandal. The investigation continues, with the public and authorities alike calling for transparency and accountability in the management of temple funds.
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