Taling Chan:The court sentenced former monk Alongkot to 742 years in prison and Dr. Bee, a spiritual medium, to 386 years for embezzling temple funds. Despite these lengthy sentences, the actual imprisonment was reduced to 50 years each, in accordance with the law. Both were also ordered to repay over 300 million baht to Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu.
According to Thai News Agency, the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Malfeasance Cases in Taling Chan delivered its verdict in the corruption case. The public prosecutor's Special Division for Anti-Corruption Cases 3 charged Mr. Alongkot Poolmook, the former abbot of Wat Phrabat Namphu in Lopburi Province, and Mr. Seksan Thrapsuebsakul, known as Dr. Bee, with embezzlement, malfeasance in office, aiding and abetting crimes, and money laundering.
The defendants were accused of misappropriating charitable donations for personal use, including purchasing land, building a football field, and investing in companies, violating Sections 147 and 157 of the Criminal Code. Both defendants pleaded not guilty.
During the verdict hearing, representatives from the plaintiff, both defendants, and their attorneys were present. The court detailed the offenses committed by both defendants, sentencing Alongkot to separate terms for each offense: six years per count for misappropriation and three years for money laundering. Due to mitigating circumstances, the sentences were reduced to one year per count for misappropriation, totaling 740 years, and two years for money laundering, culminating in 742 years.
Dr. Bee was sentenced to four years per count for aiding and abetting misappropriation and three years for money laundering. With similar reductions, his sentence totaled 370 years and 1,480 months for aiding and abetting, and 16 years for money laundering, making a combined 386 years and 1,480 months.
Ultimately, the court ordered both defendants to serve 50 years each and to jointly repay 306,026,143.5 baht to Wat Phrabat Namphu.