Former Buddhist Monk Convicted of Embezzlement in Thailand

A former Buddhist monk in Thailand has been convicted of misusing donations intended for a hospice he established for people with HIV/AIDS and sentenced to 50 years in prison. Alongkot Poonmook, previously known as Phra Ratcha Wisutthiprachanat, was found guilty of multiple counts of embezzlement and money laundering by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.

Alongkot and an associate, Seksan Sapsubbsakul, who handled fundraising, were arrested last year. The court handed down cumulative sentences of 742 years for Alongkot and over 386 years for Seksan, which were automatically reduced to the legal maximum of 50 years due to Thai law.

They were ordered to return more than 300 million Thai baht (approximately $9 million) to the hospice at Wat Phra Bat Namphu temple in Lopburi province. Alongkot had served as the abbot of the temple, which has long been a respected institution in the Buddhist-majority nation. However, the financial scandal has tarnished its image.

The hospice, established in 1992, was initially recognized as a pioneering humanitarian project. Its relevance diminished with advancements in antiretroviral drugs for HIV treatment. Alongkot later expanded the facility to accommodate patients with other serious illnesses and the temple also runs charities that fund education for underprivileged children.