Former Thai Buddhist monk who founded AIDS hospice convicted of embezzlement, sentenced to 50 years
Alongkot Poonmook, a former Buddhist monk who founded a hospice for people with HIV/AIDS at Wat Phra Bat Namphu temple in Lopburi, Thailand, was convicted Wednesday of embezzlement and money laundering by Thailand's Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. His associate and fundraiser, Seksan Sapsubbsakul, was also found guilty on multiple counts. Both men received sentences reduced to the legal maximum of 50 years in prison.
Single source · Not corroborated
Alongkot Poonmook, formerly known by his monastic name Phra Ratcha Wisutthiprachanat, was convicted Wednesday alongside his associate Seksan Sapsubbsakul by Thailand's Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on multiple counts of embezzlement and money laundering related to donations made to the hospice.
The court imposed a cumulative sentence of 742 years on Alongkot and more than 386 years on Seksan, both automatically reduced to the legal maximum of 50 years each. The two men were also ordered to return more than 300 million baht — approximately $9 million — to the hospice.
Alongkot had been forced to leave the monkhood after his arrest last year. He had served as abbot of Wat Phra Bat Namphu temple in the central province of Lopburi. The Associated Press reported that the case drew widespread attention after questions about the handling of the hospice's funds emerged online and prompted a formal investigation.