Ex-abbot beats fund-theft rapThe Appeal Court on Wednesday overturned a lower court ruling and acquitted the former abbot of Wat Sam Phraya and his aide of all charges relating to alleged embezzlement in a five million baht Buddhist education project. Phra Phrom Dilok: AcquittedAccording to the court, there was no evidence suggesting former Phra Phrom Dilok, whose layman name is Uan Klinsalee, and his secretary, the former Phra Atthakit Sophon, or Somsong Atthakit, were involved in irregularities. The alleged irregularities involved five million baht given to the temple by the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) to pay for the construction of a Phra Pariyatti Dhamma school. No Phra Pariyatti Dhamma school was ever built on Wat Sam Phraya's grounds. Annop Boonsawang, the defence lawyer, said yesterday that prosecutors had yet to decide whether to appeal the ruling.

Source: Bangkok Post September 24, 2020 00:11 UTC