Bangkok: In a case that has prompted legal scrutiny and public outrage, a renowned fortune teller is alleged to have orchestrated a questionable donation scheme using the name of Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu temple. The controversy emerged after it was discovered that the fortune teller was the sole individual permitted to withdraw funds from an account supposedly designated for the temple, a practice that is legally untenable.

According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Maj. Gen. Charoonkiat Pankaew, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), has disclosed that victims of the scheme have approached the Crime Suppression Division’s Division 1 seeking justice. The Division 1 superintendent is actively investigating the matter to determine the legitimacy of the fortune teller’s claim that the funds were ultimately directed to the temple’s abbot.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Charoonkiat emphasized the necessity of verifying the financial trail to ascertain whether the funds indeed reached the abbot and how they were subsequently utilized. The ongoing investigation aims to clarify whether the actions of the fortune teller constitute fraud, contingent on the evidence of financial transactions involving the abbot.

The case has raised significant questions about the ethical and legal implications of using a temple’s name for personal financial gain. Pol. Maj. Gen. Charoonkiat reiterated that if the temple’s name is on the donation account, the funds should be accessible only to the temple. As part of the investigative process, a comprehensive audit of the account will be conducted to determine the total deposits and the temple’s actual receipts.

The incident underscores the necessity for transparency and accountability in managing temple finances, with Pol. Maj. Gen. Charoonkiat highlighting that donation accounts associated with religious institutions must be subject to rigorous audits by a temple committee to prevent potential misuse.