A respected Buddhist abbot in Thailand has resigned from the monkhood and quietly crossed into Laos following allegations of a romantic affair with a woman who later tried to extort him.
The case has drawn widespread attention in Thailand and sparked a financial investigation into the temple he once led.
Relationship With a Woman Leads to a Scandal
The monk at the centre of the controversy is Phra Thepwachirapamok, more widely known as Chaokhun Arj, the former abbot of Wat Tri Thotsathep, a well-known temple in central Bangkok.
According to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), Arj was allegedly involved in a romantic relationship with a 35-year-old woman known as Miss K for about three years.
The two reportedly met in hotels multiple times during their relationship.
Miss K allegedly targeted senior monks and had similar relationships with at least three others, according to reports.
False Pregnancy and Alleged Extortion
Over time, Arj reportedly began to distance himself from Miss K. According to The Thaiger, he feared their illicit relationship would be exposed.
In response, Miss K allegedly faked a pregnancy and demanded 7.8 million baht (approx. S$307,254) from him as compensation for child support.
Arj eventually discovered the pregnancy claim was false and refused to pay.
Following the rejection, Miss K allegedly leaked private videos and voice recordings of her time with Arj, including a clip of them in a hotel room and recordings in which they discussed their relationship and plans.
The materials prompted senior monks to file a formal complaint with Thai police, according to Nation Thailand.
Abbot Attempts to Disrobe in Laos but Returns to Thailand
As the investigation continued, Arj quietly left Bangkok with his driver and travelled to Nong Khai province, which borders Laos.
Based on a Facebook post by ดาวแปดแฉก, on 27 June 2025, at around 9:20 pm, he crossed into Laos through the Nong Khai border checkpoint.
He initially attempted to disrobe (formally leave the monkhood) in Vientiane, Laos. However, the temple declined, stating they could not carry out the ceremony for a Thai monk who had not been ordained there.
As a result, Arj re-entered Thailand on 29 June 2025, through the Hadxayfong border, and proceeded to Wat Chan Samakkhi in Nong Khai. He officially disrobed at 2:45 pm that day.
CCTV Captures Quiet Exit
Shortly after the disrobing, Arj was seen once again crossing into Laos. CCTV footage released by ดาวแปดแฉก on Facebook captured him walking briskly through the Thai-Lao border checkpoint.
Money Trail Raises Red Flags
As the scandal unfolded, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) began auditing the finances of Wat Tri Thotsathep, where Arj had served as abbot.
Initial findings revealed multiple money transfers from temple-linked accounts to Miss K’s bank account, ranging from 10,000 baht (approx. S$393) to several hundred thousand baht.
Investigators have yet to confirm whether the money came from Arj’s personal savings or temple donations.
As of early July 2025, Arj’s current location remains unknown. He was last confirmed to have crossed into Laos, and Thai authorities are actively investigating.
More from Wake Up Singapore:-
Thai Abbot Embezzled S$11M for Online Gambling, Woman’s Private Videos Found in Phone
4-Year-Old Boy in Thailand Rescued After Video of Him Smoking Goes Viral
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