Former Thai monk who founded AIDS hospice gets 50-year sentence for embezzlement
A former Buddhist monk who founded a widely praised hospice for people living with HIV/AIDS in Thailand was convicted of embezzlement and money laundering on Wednesday and sentenced to the legal maximum of 50 years in prison.
Alongkot Poonmook, formerly known as Phra Ratcha Wisutthiprachanat, and his associate Seksan Sapsubbsakul, who worked as a fundraiser for the project, were found guilty on multiple counts by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases.
Alongkot was sentenced to a cumulative 742 years in prison, while Seksan received a cumulative sentence of more than 386 years. Both sentences were automatically reduced to the statutory maximum of 50 years.
The court also ordered the two men to return more than 300 million baht, or about USD 9 million, to the hospice at Wat Phra Bat Namphu temple in the central province of Lopburi, where Alongkot had served as abbot.
Alongkot was forced to leave the monkhood after his arrest last year along with Seksan.
The case attracted widespread attention after questions about the handling of donations to the hospice emerged online and prompted an investigation.
Thailand's temples can accumulate substantial wealth through donations from worshippers, who often give money as a form of religious merit. The country has previously seen senior monks accused of misappropriating temple funds.
The scandal has damaged the reputation of Wat Phra Bat Namphu, which had long been regarded as a respected institution in the predominantly Buddhist country.
Alongkot established the hospice in 1992, and it was regarded as a pioneering humanitarian project at the time. Its role became less central after antiretroviral medicines became widely available to treat HIV.
Alongkot subsequently expanded the facility's work to provide care for people suffering from other serious illnesses.
The temple also operates charities that support the education of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
