Former Thai Buddhist monk sentenced to 742 years for embezzling from AIDS hospice he founded
A former Buddhist monk in Thailand was convicted Wednesday of misusing donations to a highly praised hospice he established for people with HIV/AIDS and given the maximum term of 50 years in prison.
Former Thai Buddhist monk Alongkot Poonmook, now known as Phra Ratcha Wisutthiprachanat, has been sentenced to a combined 742 years in prison for embezzlement and money laundering, according to the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. Alongkot, who founded an AIDS hospice, was found guilty alongside his associate Seksan Sapsubbsakul, a fundraiser for the project.
Both men were accused of misappropriating temple funds, a situation that has led to scrutiny of the handling of funds for the hospice at Wat Phra Bat Namphu temple in the central province of Lopburi. Seksan received a sentence of over 386 years, but both sentences were automatically reduced to the legal maximum of 50 years. The temple, once a revered institution, has seen its reputation tarnished by the financial scandal.
Alongkot's hospice, initially a pioneering humanitarian project in 1992, has become less relevant following the availability of antiretroviral drugs for HIV treatment. The temple also runs various charities, including educational funding for underprivileged children.
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