The news of the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct this week handing a 480-year-plus jail term to a former abbot for embezzling temple donations is shocking enough. But the story gets even more convoluted.
The court on Wednesday sentenced Khom Kongkeo -- formerly known as Phra Ajarn Khom Apiwaro -- to 486 years behind bars. Khom gained fame in 2021 for providing sermons and meditation sessions at a monastery in a pristine forest to Thai elites, including high-ranking military officers, millionaires and politicians.
So it was shocking to learn last year that Khom, along with the abbot who preceded him, Phra Maha Wuthima Thaomor, were both disrobed for allegedly stealing at least 180 million baht of temple money, among other infractions.
The police also found 130 million baht of temple money in Khom's personal bank account and 51 million baht in cash at the house of Khom's sister, Jutatip Pubodeewachorupan, who was placed under arrest.
Wuthima was sentenced to 312 years and Jutatip got a 308-year jail term. Another six defendants who pled guilty but cooperated received lighter sentences of two years each.
Khom's case is just one of many involving Thai monks in saffron robes swindling temple donations.
Despite around 30,000 Buddhist temples receiving sufficient financial support from the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) to support their needs, many temples still encourage and benefit from donations by visiting Buddhists.
In an average year, they each receive 3.2 million baht in support -- 2 million baht of which comes from public donations -- as well as 1.4 million from selling sacred objects and amulets, and another 1.05 million baht from ordination ceremonies and other rites, according to the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) in 2014.
With sums of that kind, any efforts to ensure temple funds are transparent have been challenging at best and often in vain.
While many Buddhists blame individual greed, the National Office of Buddhism (NOB)--the state's regulatory body--also deserves blame for failing to regulate financial audits of these temples.
While they are supposed to submit financial reports to the NOB every year, most fail to do so. But the NOB has taken no action against them.
Meanwhile, one of the Supreme Sangha Council's criteria for promoting senior monks is based on how many activities and much structural development they can take credit for, which incentivises rampant fundraising.
Lest we forget, the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) back in 2020 submitted five recommendations to the NOB for it to improve its financial auditing.
These included the introduction of web-based financial data for temples to file budget requests, impartial auditors, and a requirement for temples to disclose the budget they receive from the state.
The NACC has also noted that most abbots lack financial management skills, paving the way for exploitation.
The NOB must establish an independent check-and-balance system and mandate external financial audits by professionals.
Protecting monks from financial temptation or their own incompetence in money matters will also help restore the public's faith in Thai Buddhism.