Authorities promise openness during investigation into temple donation inquiries
In March 2025, an investigation was initiated into allegations of donation misuse at Wat Phrabat Nam Phu, a renowned HIV/AIDS hospice temple in Thailand. The investigation was sparked by complaints about suspicious withdrawals from the bank account of Seksan "Mor Bee" Supsuebsakul, a celebrity spiritual medium who managed donations for the temple.
The timeline of the investigation has been marked by several significant events. In early August 2025, Mor Bee was questioned by police for seven hours regarding allegations of fraud and misuse of donations. The investigation focused on over 200 million baht in suspicious withdrawals.
On August 8, 2025, police announced that they were gathering evidence to determine if any embezzlement had occurred at the temple. Inconsistencies were found in Mor Bee's accounts regarding how donations were handled. The investigation continued, with investigators probing the temple's finances, focusing on the discrepancies in Mor Bee's statements.
By August 14, it was reported that Mor Bee initially claimed to have kept some donations and forwarded the rest to the abbot, but later stated he had handed over all donations. On August 22, it was revealed that Mor Bee's aides made significant withdrawals from the donations account, with much of the money not being delivered to the temple.
The investigation has also expanded to include the former abbot of Wat Phrabat Nam Phu, Phra Alongkot. On August 24, the National Office of Buddhism announced plans to renew its investigation into Phra Alongkot's identity following public claims of ID fraud.
As the investigation progresses, evidence is being collected to determine if embezzlement has occurred. The temple's board has announced plans to pursue legal action if wrongdoing is confirmed. All personal donation accounts are to be closed, and future donations must go through the temple's official e-Donation system for transparency.
The scandal has heightened concerns about financial oversight in Thai temples, following a series of recent scandals involving monks and financial malfeasance. The investigation into the donation embezzlement case at Wat Phrabat Nam Phu is being conducted by the Deputy Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner, Pol Lt Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew.
The probe aims to untangle issues that have been there for over 30 years and ensure that donations people make are appropriately used. The investigation is being conducted transparently, with a meeting of the committee to protect and suppress threats to Buddhism held to discuss the police probe.
The case is sensitive because it involves people's faith. However, the picture of what has happened with the alleged embezzlement of the donations should be clearer in 1-2 weeks. The investigation is focused on the HIV/AIDS hospice temple Wat Phrabat Nam Phu in Lop Buri province.
Phra Khru Alongkot, the long-serving abbot and founder of the shelter for people with HIV/AIDS, and related individuals will be summoned to provide information. Phra Khru Alongkot earlier stated that Mr Seksan used to bring two types of documents for him to sign — documents for receiving donations and documents for charity project proposals.
The investigation into the donation embezzlement case at Wat Phrabat Nam Phu is a significant step towards ensuring the transparency and proper use of donations in Thai temples. The probe's goal is to restore the faith of the public and ensure that their generous donations are used to support those in need, as intended.
Science magazines are likely to discuss the impact of financial transparency in Thai temples from the Wat Phrabat Nam Phu investigation, given its significance. The health-and-wellness community may express concern about how this donation embezzlement case specifically affects HIV/AIDS patients in the temple. General news outlets could cover the crime-and-justice aspects of the investigation, delving into the actions of Mor Bee, Phra Alongkot, and their associates.
