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Court acquits ex-governor in temple embezzlement case

Court acquits ex-governor in temple embezzlement case

Thairath•Society•8d ago

Reader Briefing

A criminal court has acquitted a former Nakhon Sawan ecclesiastical governor and temple abbot in a case alleging the embezzlement of over 4 million baht from the temple, a decision to which the presiding judge of the Central Criminal Court for Corruption expressed a dissenting opinion.

  • •The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct acquitted 'Phra Thid Sarit', former Nakhon Sawan Ecclesiastical Governor and abbot of Wat Nakhon Sawan, in a case of alleged embezzlement of over 4 million baht.
  • •The court found that the temple had borrowed money from the former governor and the transfers were repayments, not misappropriation.
  • •However, the Presiding Judge of the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Central submitted a dissenting opinion, stating that there were contradictions in the defendant's testimony and believing the defendant had embezzled over 2.1 million Baht.

Overview

  • •On May 5, 2026, the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Central announced its verdict.
  • •The court acquitted Mr. Sarit Janprathue and Ms. Phuthinee Kiwphitak (accused as defendant 1 and 2).
  • •The court ruled that the temple had borrowed money from the former governor, and the transfers were repayments of that loan, not illegal misappropriation of temple funds.
  • •The court stated that the actions of the former governor were not offenses as charged, and therefore, the second defendant was not an accomplice.
  • •Presiding Judge Thanarat Thangthong submitted a dissenting opinion, highlighting inconsistencies in the defendant's statements concerning temple expense claims.
  • •The dissenting opinion asserted that the defendant exploited his position to embezzle temple funds into his personal account in 38 counts totaling 2,136,047 Baht.
  • •The court's main verdict was to acquit both defendants and dismiss the civil claim.
  • •The dissenting opinion recommended convicting the former governor for embezzlement and ordering the return of the embezzled funds to the temple.

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Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Quotes

Court
"The verdict is to acquit and dismiss the civil claim."
พิพากษายกฟ้องและยกคำขอในส่วนแพ่ง
Thanarat Thangthong (Presiding Judge)
"The defendant's testimony and investigation revealed contradictions. Defendant 1's claim of large sums for temple expenses was a mere assertion without supporting evidence."
คำให้การและทางไต่สวนของจำเลยที่ 1 นั้น พบว่ามีความย้อนแย้งในหลายประเด็น จำเลยที่ 1 อ้างว่าเงินจำนวนมากเป็นค่าใช้จ่ายทั่วไปในกิจการของวัดนั้น มีเพียงคำเบิกความกล่าวอ้างลอย ๆ แต่ไม่ปรากฏพยานหลักฐานอื่นยืนยัน
Thanarat Thangthong (Presiding Judge)
"Defendant 1 exploited his position to deposit temple funds into his personal account and embezzled them corruptly in 38 counts, totaling 2,136,047 Baht."
จำเลยที่ 1 อาศัยโอกาสที่มีตำแหน่งหน้าที่รับเงินของวัดเข้าบัญชีส่วนตัวแล้วเบียดบังไปโดยทุจริต 38 กรรม เป็นเงินรวม 2,136,047 บาท

Key Entities

Person

Phra Thid Sarit(ทิดสฤษดิ์)
Former Ecclesiastical Governor of Nakhon Sawan and former abbot of Wat Nakhon Sawan, accused in an embezzlement case.
Former Ecclesiastical Governor of Nakhon Sawan(อดีตเจ้าคณะนครสวรรค์)
The role held by Phra Thid Sarit, a defendant in the embezzlement case.
Mr. Sarit Janprathue(นายสฤษฏิ์ จันท์ประธาตุ)
The individual identified as defendant 1, formerly known as Phra Thid Sarit or Phra Thamawhiratheerakun, former Ecclesiastical Governor of Nakhon Sawan.
Phra Thamawhiratheerakun(พระธรรมวชิรธีรคุณ)
The former religious title of Mr. Sarit Janprathue, a defendant in the embezzlement case.
Ms. Phuthinee Kiwphitak(น.ส.ภูธิณี กิวพิทักษ์)
Identified as defendant 2 in the embezzlement case against the former Ecclesiastical Governor of Nakhon Sawan.
Mr. Thanarat Thangthong(นายธนรัตน์ ทั่งทอง)
Presiding Judge of the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Central who submitted a dissenting opinion in the embezzlement case.

Place

Nakhon Sawan(นครสวรรค์)ℹ️
The province in Thailand where the Wat Nakhon Sawan and its alleged embezzlement case are located.

Organization

Wat Nakhon Sawan(วัดนครสวรรค์)
The temple at the center of an embezzlement case involving over 4 million baht.
Krungthai Bank(ธนาคารกรุงไทย)ℹ️
The bank where the temple's account, involved in the embezzlement case, was held.
Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Central(ศาลอาญาคดีทุจริตและประพฤติมิชอบกลาง)
The court that heard and ruled on the embezzlement case involving the former Ecclesiastical Governor of Nakhon Sawan.