Phra Pipat Sasanakitwithan Appointed Acting Abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan

Matichon•Society•10d ago

Reader Briefing

Phra Pipat Sasanakitwithan has been appointed as the acting abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan following the defrocking of the former abbot.

•Phra Thep Watcharachariyajarn appointed Phra Pipat Sasanakitwithan as acting abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan on September 10, 2026.
•The appointment follows the defrocking of Phra Wachirayan (Apichot Thammavaro) on September 10, 2026.
•Phra Wachirayan was arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau under a court warrant for embezzlement and money laundering.

•The Central Investigation Bureau arrested Phra Wachirayan (Apichot Thammavaro), the abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan, based on a warrant from the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Region 1.
•Phra Wachirayan was accused of embezzling temple funds totaling over 92 million baht and transferring them to a close female associate.
•Phra Wachirayan defrocked on September 10, 2026, at the ordination hall of Wat Phutthaisawan and was taken into police custody.
•On September 10, 2026, Phra Thep Watcharachariyajarn, the Provincial Ecclesiastical Governor of Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya, signed an order to appoint an acting abbot.
•The appointment was made under Clause 4, paragraph two of the Sangha Supreme Council Regulation No. 19 (1993), issued under the Sangha Act 1962 and its 1992 amendment.
•Phra Pipat Sasanakitwithan (Prayoon Sutthipunyo), abbot of Wat Tha Karong and Deputy Provincial Ecclesiastical Governor of Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya, was appointed as the acting abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan.
•The appointment of Phra Pipat Sasanakitwithan is effective from September 10, 2026, onwards.

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Phra Thep Watcharachariyajarn(พระเทพวัชรจริยาจารย์)

The Provincial Ecclesiastical Governor of Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya who signed the appointment order.

Phra Pipat Sasanakitwithan (Prayoon Sutthipunyo)(พระพิพัฒนศาสนกิจวิธาน (ประยูร สุทฺธิปุญโญ))

Abbot of Wat Tha Karong and Deputy Provincial Ecclesiastical Governor of Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya, appointed as acting abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan.

Phra Wachirayan (Apichot Thammavaro)(พระวชิรญาณ วิ. หรือหลวงพ่ออติโชติ ธมฺมวโร)

Former abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan who defrocked after being arrested for embezzlement and money laundering.

Central Investigation Bureau(บก.ป.)ℹ️

The police agency that arrested Phra Wachirayan.

Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Region 1(ศาลอาญาทุจริตและประพฤติมิชอบ ภาค 1)

The court that issued the arrest warrant for Phra Wachirayan.

Wat Phutthaisawan(วัดพุทไธศวรรย์)ℹ️

A royal monastery in Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Province.

Wat Tha Karong(วัดท่าการ้อง)

The temple where Phra Pipat Sasanakitwithan serves as abbot.

Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Province(จังหวัดพระนครศรีอยุธยา)

The province where the events occurred.

Sangha Supreme Council Regulation No. 19 (1993)(กฎมหาเถรสมาคม ฉบับที่ 19 (พ.ศ. 2536))

The regulation governing the appointment of acting abbots.

Sangha Act 1962(พระราชบัญญัติคณะสงฆ์ พ.ศ.2505)

The primary act under which Sangha regulations are issued.