PATTAYA, Thailand – In a major development in a high-profile case of the Rai Khing Temple abbot in Nakhon Pathom, who allegedly embezzled over 300 million baht of temple funds to play online baccarat, authorities have made a connected arrest in Pattaya. On May 15th, 2025, at approximately 4:30 PM, officers from the Central Investigation Bureau’s Anti-Corruption Division (CIB) apprehended Ms. Aranyawan Wangthaphan, a 28-year-old broker allegedly linked to an online gambling network.
Ms. Aranyawan is accused of receiving money transfers from the abbot to fund credits for an online gambling website. She was detained alongside her boyfriend in a condominium on Pattaya Second Road in Pattaya. Following her arrest, CIB officers immediately escorted her to the Central Investigation Bureau headquarters for further questioning.
Reporters from The Pattaya News who visited the condominium found residents reluctant to provide details, and many were unaware of the arrest. The case continues to draw major attention as investigations into the broader gambling network and the temple’s financial misconduct deepen.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as they work to uncover the full extent of the scandal.
The case of Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat, the 70-year-old abbot of Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom, has shocked Thailand, exposing an alleged scandal that intertwines faith, greed, and systemic vulnerabilities in temple governance. Accused of embezzling over 300 million baht (approximately $8.3 million USD) from temple funds, the abbot allegedly funneled the money into his personal account to fuel an addiction to online baccarat, a popular gambling game.
The scandal came to light after the Crime Suppression Division received complaints, prompting an eight-month investigation that revealed the temple’s coffers were nearly depleted, forcing the abbot to borrow large sums—often six- and seven-digit amounts—from senior monks at other temples. On May 15th, 2025, Phra Thamma surrendered to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Bangkok, just as authorities were preparing to issue an arrest warrant, and was charged with malfeasance and embezzlement as a regional Buddhist official.
The Abbot has not released detailed statements to the press.
