The director of the Songkhla Provincial Office of Buddhism has been arrested for allegedly pocketing 3.2 million baht from the budget of a temple in Narathiwat province.
Sathien Damrongrat was captured on Friday after Phra Khru Borihan Sangathanuwat, secretary of Wat Chontharawas in Rangae district of Narathiwat, handed him 3.2 million baht in cash in a Tesco Lotus parking lot in Muang district of Songkhla.
Songkhla police who had set up the sting apprehended Mr Sathien as he was about to get into a van with the money, said Lt Col Korntip Darote, deputy secretary-general of the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).
The joint operation by the PACC, police and Budget Bureau officials began on Thursday after Mr Sathien telephoned the monk to tell him that 4 million baht had been wired to the temple's bank account. The money was intended for the temple to use for activities to promote the religion.
Sathien: caught with 3.2 million baht in cash in a sting operation. (Songkhla police photo)
According to investigators, Mr Sathien instructed the monk to keep only 800,000 baht and return the rest to him for other temples to use. He then set a time and place for the cash handover.
The monk contacted the Budget Bureau to verify details of the budget for his temple. The police and PACC were then contacted to map out a plan, which included copying all of the 1,000-baht banknotes for use as evidence.
Mr Sathien was charged with abuse of authority and corruption but was not taken to the news conference where police displayed the seized money on Saturday.
Treewit Sriprapa, deputy commander of the Songkhla police, said Mr Sathien had denied all charges and said he would fight the case in court.
However, authorities are continuing their investigation as they believe the accused did not act alone. Pol Col Treewit said more officials, possibly including some in senior positions above Mr Sathien, might have been involved.
He said the PACC had received two previous complaints that Mr Sathien had sought a total of 3.7 million baht in cash from other temples in the three southern border provinces.
He allegedly told temple authorities that he could channel budget funds to them but they must give him some money in return, according to Pol Col Treewit.