A revered abbot who once helped AIDS patients is now at the center of Thailand's latest monastic scandal.
He is accused of orchestrating massive fraud using donations potentially worth tens of billions of baht.
It's another blow to Thai Buddhism, already weakened by numerous scandals and financial irregularities.
See: Sex scandal involving monks: Thailand tries to restore faith
From hero to suspect
On August 26, 2025, police investigators persuaded Luang Pho Alongkot to strip off his religious robes to defend himself against the accusations he denies.
This time, it is Luang Pho Alongkot, an abbot long celebrated for his commitment to AIDS patients, who finds himself accused of colossal fraud
The former abbot of Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu in Lopburi Province built a reputation in 1992 by opening the temple as a refuge for patients with HIV/AIDS at the start of the epidemic in Thailand.
At a time when discrimination was widespread and treatments were limited, his temple became a sanctuary that attracted national media attention and massive donations
But on August 26, 2025, this 32-year journey ended dramatically.
Alongkot was defrocked and accused of money laundering alongside the famous medium “Doctor Bee” (Seksan Sapsuksakul).
Both are still in detention awaiting a decision on their bail.
An elaborate setup to deceive donors
Luang Pho Alongkot receives alms with Doctor Bee sitting beside him at the Chaeng Watthana government complex on February 20, 2019.
Police Colonel Charoenkiat Pankaew, who leads the investigation, describes this scheme as 'Alongkot the drama', an elaborate staging designed to deceive donors.
"If the temple truly helped patients at first, with the advent of AIDS treatments and lower medical costs, donations paradoxically increased," he explains
“Care for patients was practically no longer needed, but every appeal for donations claimed to be helping patients.”
Investigators believe that the network operated like a business, with those in charge systematically collecting and managing funds through multiple channels.
The damage could reach tens of billions of baht over several years
A life built on lies
Monk Alongkot just defrocked with police at the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Photo: Central Investigation Bureau Police (CIB)
The monk's real name was Kriangkrai Phetkaew, but he had assumed the complete identity of a deceased classmate, Alongkot Polmuk, using not only his friend's name but also his parents' to open bank accounts in the foundation's name.
See also about identity theft in Thailand: Shock in Thailand, a female social media star was actually a man
His impressive credentials were entirely fabricated: he was not a graduate of the prestigious Debsirin school, nor Kasetsart University, nor held a master's degree in engineering from Australia.
He admitted to never having completed his professional studies and having fled military service to take refuge in Malaysia before returning to be ordained as a monk, originally planning to wear the robe only temporarily.
Luang Pho Alongkot was the abbot of Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu in Lopburi Province for 32 years, fabricating much of his personal history.
The role of the medium
Monk Luang Pho Alongkot with Doctor Bee, medium
The downfall began with 'Doctor Bee', who exploited the temple's reputation to raise funds for his own profit.
Temple insiders began to suspect when cash donations mysteriously disappeared, coinciding with the construction of a new luxurious house by Doctor Bee.
These internal informations led to a major investigation that extended to around 30 network members working with the former monk.
Systematic Chaos
Phra Baht Nam Phu Buddhist Temple. Photo: Swabhava Wordpress
The National Anti-Corruption Commission found no proper financial management system, despite easily obtained funds.
The temple officials were unable to account for the number of bank accounts or explain how the money was used to purchase insurance or create companies.
A former patient made withdrawals exceeding 300 million baht in five years.
Someone easily obtained 100 million bahts from the monk to buy a helicopter.
Current consequences
The scandal affects 120 people who still live in the temple, including 60 terminally ill patients requiring full-time care.
At the same time, the case led to systematic reforms:
- The Revenue Ministry will require electronic donation systems (e-Donation) for tax deductions starting from January 2026.
- Traditional handwritten merit certificates will no longer be valid for tax purposes.
- Organizations have revoked the honors previously awarded to Alongkot.
- Educational authorities have removed the passages praising him from 5th-grade textbooks.
A broader vision
Entrance of the Phra Baht Nam Phu Buddhist temple. Photo: Swabhava Wordpress
This case represents more than just a simple case of individual corruption: it highlights the weaknesses of the temple donation system in Thailand and the ease with which the public's compassion can be exploited.
As the investigation continues, the authorities hope to set an example in order to deter the implementation of similar schemes in the thousands of temples in Thailand.
This man, once celebrated as the savior of AIDS patients, is now a striking example of the dark potential that lurks behind sacred robes and charitable facades.
See also:
Thailand: arrest of the woman who seduced and blackmailed monks
Sex scandal in Thailand: a woman has trapped influential monks
Thailand: 3 monks punished after their spree in Pattaya's red-light district
A drug-addicted and armed monk arrested after sowing terror in Thailand
Thailand: a pedophile monk rapes children with impunity
Source: Khaosod English
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6 comments
Religions: a well-oiled business plan
Whether we talk about Catholicism, Islam or even Buddhism, the logic is often the same: money circulates, and a lot!
Behind the spiritual discourse lies an organization that functions like a real business.
The faithful give, institutions cash, and where there are large sums, greed is never far away.
The financial scandals that regularly erupt in different religions are proof: money attracts profiteers, and disputes over profit sharing are never far away.
In Thailand, the paradox is striking.
For years, certain abuses were tolerated, ignored, as if no one wanted to see.
Then, suddenly, affairs come to light: monks are found to be caught up in corruption or fraud scandals, after decades of silence.
Temples, which should be places of meditation and contemplation above all, sometimes display their donation boxes prominently.
Religion, supposed to guide souls, becomes a market.
And when spirituality turns into commerce, it is the faith of the faithful that is ultimately betrayed.
Nothing more to say, Gaspard, you have summarized the situation and status of certain Thai Buddhist monks very well…
All that's left to do is to unfurl large advertising banners at the entrance of certain temples run by this category of 'capitalist' monks: 'DO YOU WANT TO BECOME RICH? BECOME A MONK HERE' !!!
A long time ago, I took the initiative to go see that famous temple and I discovered with astonishment a real human circus that staged the agony of poor people suffering from AIDS to collect money.
There were buses that unloaded with a crowd of curious people who came to be frightened by the death of all these dying people.
The visit ended with the obligatory passage to pay one's obol.
No monk to accompany all these dying people who ended their last days photographed by curious people unconcerned about human suffering.
I thought I was discovering a place of kindness and solidarity, but it was a real shock to see all this staging of suffering and human misery to make money.
It took more than 20 years (if not 30 years) for this vile human circus to be denounced by the media.
One more monk, he claims to be Buddhist, but well, he seems not too worried, he has a smile, it's because he has good morale.
This is also Thailand, like the other day, I saw a person who lost their entire house, but they saved their TV and they also had a big smile, so the TV must be more important than the house.
The religion(s), the opium of the people > who said that?
Finally, it's mainly that it's misused, finally the cash is sometimes misused.
And the religious wars?
I who believed in all that ????.
And even one day, I'll go there to make a donation, because around me, I've lost loved ones to this disease, but what a staging, I find it at the god that some people use a religion and the misery of people to get rich.
May they go to hell.