Financial examination initiated in Wat Nakhon Sawan following the departure of the disgraced abbot
In the small town of Nakhon Sawan, Thailand, a shockwave has rippled through the local community and beyond, as the Wat Nakhon Sawan temple finds itself at the centre of a sex and money scandal involving its abbot.
Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakun, the 67-year-old abbot of Wat Nakhon Sawan and ecclesiastical chief of Nakhon Sawan province, disrobed late on July 19, 2025, after 47 years as a monk. The scandal was triggered by the arrest on July 15, 2025, of Wilawan "Sika Golf" Emsawat, a 35-year-old woman accused of having sexual relations with numerous senior monks, including the abbot.
Following Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakun's hasty departure, a financial audit of Wat Nakhon Sawan was conducted on Monday by Buddhism officials. Led by Ekkarat Sema, a senior religious affairs academic from the Nakhon Sawan Provincial Office of Buddhism, the audit aimed to ensure transparency and accountability during the abbot transition. Representatives from Muang police station, members of the temple committee, and Phra Khru Suthathammabandit, the assistant abbot of Wat Nakhon Sawan, were also present.
Phra Khru Suthathammabandit emphasised the importance of involving the provincial Buddhism office in the process to assure the public of the temple's financial integrity. The audit focused on reviewing documents detailing income, expenditure, amulet sales, and temple assets, with the intention of ensuring clarity and accountability in the handover to a new abbot.
The temple remains open to the public, with many continuing to visit and pay their respects to Luang Pho Si Sawan. A lottery vendor near the temple noted a slight drop in visitor numbers following the scandal but also mentioned that many devotees continue to arrive daily.
In response to the scandal, the King has revoked royal appointments and ecclesiastical titles from 81 monks following the revelations of monastic misconduct related to this and other scandals. Phra Thid Sarit, formerly known as Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakun, is currently under investigation for suspected financial irregularities in the Nakhon Sawan Buddhist Park project.
If any civil laws had been broken, those involved must accordingly enter the legal process. The assistant abbot stated that if any monk is found to have violated monastic codes, the matter will be handled by the ecclesiastical judicial system.
As the investigation continues, the people of Nakhon Sawan await answers and a restoration of trust in their beloved temple.
In light of the ongoing sex and money scandal, the general-news headlines are questioning the financial practices of Wat Nakhon Sawan, with focus on its industry and business aspects. The crime-and-justice sector is involved as Phra Thid Sarit (formerly known as Phra Thamma Wachiratheerakun) is under investigation for suspected financial irregularities. The financial audit of the temple, led by Ekkarat Sema, aims to ensure transparency and accountability in the business dealings of the temple, particularly regarding income, expenditure, amulet sales, and temple assets.
