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2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations

2017-2020年泰国寺庙欺诈调查

The 2017–2020 Thai temple fraud investigations (Thai: ?????????????, romanized: Kadi nguen thon wat, lit.?'Case of returning money by temples') are a series of investigations by the Thai junta of the alleged abuse of governmental subsidies by government officers and Buddhist temples. The investigations started in 2017, and culminated in the controversial May 2018 arrest of five monks with leading positions in the Thai monastic community. The investigations have been described as unprecedented and as a critical blow to the faith of Thai Buddhist devotees. They have been subject to criticism and political speculation. In July 2018, the crisis was cited by the junta to amend laws, with the result that the monastic community could no longer choose their own leading council members, but these were to be chosen by the Thai King, and possibly the ruling NCPO.

2017-2020 年泰国寺庙欺诈调查（泰文：?????????????，罗马化：Kadi nguen thon wat, lit. “寺庙退钱案”）是泰国政府对涉嫌滥用政府补贴的政府官员和佛教寺庙进行的一系列调查。调查始于 2017 年，并最终于 2018 年 5 月有争议地逮捕了五名在泰国佛教僧团中担任领导职务的僧侣。这项调查被认为是对泰国佛教信徒信仰的史无前例的重大打击。他们一直受到批评和政治猜测。2018 年 7 月，军政府援引危机来修改法律，结果寺院僧团无法再选择自己的领导班子，但这些寺庙的僧团领导班子成员将由泰国国王选择，可能还有执政的 NCPO（全国和平与秩序委员会）。

Thailand's head of the National Office for Buddhism

泰国国家佛教办公室主任

Pongporn Pramsaneh

蓬蓬·普拉萨内

In Thailand, Thai temples (Thai: ???; RTGS: wat) do not receive regular financial support from the government, but can make budget requests from the government for restoration or maintenance of temples, educational activities, or other activities for the "dissemination of Buddhism". This is done through the National Office of Buddhism (NOB), a government department. As of 2017, this amounted to a total 2.6 billion baht for all three types of funding for temples per year.

在泰国，泰国寺庙（泰语：???；RTGS：wat）不接受政府的定期财政支持，但可以向政府提出预算请求，用于修复或维护寺庙、教育活动或其他“弘扬佛教”的活动。这是由政府部门的国家佛教办公室 (NOB) 负责审批管理的。截至 2017 年，每年用于寺庙的所有三种类型的资金总额为 26 亿泰铢。

Since 2015, the Counter Corruption Division and the State Audit Office, both governmental departments, had been receiving reports about fraud with temple budget committed by government officials. The Counter Corruption Division, which would normally report this to the police, could find little evidence. Furthermore, the NOB gave little information. This changed when, in February 2017, former policeman Pongporn Pramsaneh was appointed head of the NOB by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

自 2015 年以来，政府部门反腐败司和国家审计署一直收到有关政府官员在寺庙预算中存在欺诈的举报。但反腐败部门要进行报警处理时，却几乎找不到任何证据。此外，NOB （国家佛教办公室）提供的信息很少。2017 年 2 月，前警察蓬蓬·普拉萨内被国家和平与秩序委员会 (NCPO) 任命为 NOB （国家佛教办公室）的负责人，这种情况开始得到了改变。

The case started in August 2017 when Phrakhru Baitika Anand Khemanando, abbot of a temple in Phetchaburi Province, complained about NOB civil servants. He had requested a budget of eleven million baht, which was granted, but the government officer involved asked the abbot to return ten million baht to him. Khemanando made his complaint to the Counter Corruption Division and the State Audit Office. The Counter Corruption Division investigated the matter further. The commission investigated ten sites throughout Thailand and searched the houses of high-ranking officers of the NOB. The main focus was the use of budgets from 2012 to 2016 that were meant for restoration and repair of temples.

此案始于 2017 年 8 月，当时碧武里府一座寺庙的住持 Phrakhru Baitika Anand Khemanando 抱怨 NOB 公务员。他要求预算一千一百万泰铢，得到了批准，但办事的政府官员要求住持将一千万泰铢归还给他。Khemanando 向反腐败司和国家审计署进行举报投诉，反腐败司进一步调查此事。该部门调查了泰国各地的 10 个地点，并搜查了 NOB 高级官员的房屋，主要的调查重点是2012 年至 2016 年用于复建和维修寺庙的财政预算。

The commission stated that 33 temples had requested and received subsidies from the NOB, but ten government officials had asked twelve of these temples to return 75 percent of the obtained funds, illegally. The loss of budget was estimated at 60 million baht. Four civilians and one monk were accused of conspiring with government officials.

反腐败司表示，有 33 座寺庙向国家佛教办公室申请并获得了补贴，但 10 位政府官员要求其中 12 座寺庙非法返还所获得资金的 75%。预算损失估计为 6000 万泰铢。四名公民和一名僧人被指控与政府官员串谋。

Later, a second investigation was held, in cooperation with another six government departments:

随后，反腐败司与另外六个政府部门合作进行了第二次调查：

the Anti-Money Laundering Office;
反洗钱办公室
the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission ;
公共部门反腐败委员会办公室
the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACP; another department than the Counter Corruption Division);
国家反腐败委员会（NACP，反腐败司之外的另一个部门）
the Department of Special Investigation;
特别调查部
the State Audit Office; and
国家审计署
the Royal Thai Police.
泰国皇家警察

Inspectors discovered the same pattern in another 23 temples, with one temple losing 31 million baht in this manner. This time, the same ten officers were charged, plus another three officers, all from the NOB. The highest-ranking officers were two former NOB directors: Panom Sornsilp and Nopparat Benjawatthanan. A high-ranking soldier, who had been deployed without contract as a bodyguard at the State Audit Office, was also implicated. Temples in Ayutthaya, Songkhla, Lopburi, and Bangkok were investigated, and it was reported that the officers conspired with four monks and two other civilians. The loss was assessed at 140 to 141 million baht. As a result, four monks from Petchabun, Lopburi, and Bangkok were arrested. At least one monk was later released on a bail of 1.5 million baht.

调查人员在另外 23 座寺庙中发现了相同的模式，其中一座寺庙以这种方式损失了 3100 万泰铢。这一次，同样是十名政府官员被指控，另外还有三名官员都来自 NOB（国家佛教办公室）。最高级别的官员是两名前 NOB（国家佛教办公室）的董事：Panom Sornsilp 和 Nopparat Benjawatthanan。一名在国家审计署担任保镖的高级士兵也被牵连。大城府、宋卡府、华富里府和曼谷的寺庙都受到了调查。据报道，这些官员与四名僧侣和另外两名公民合谋，损失估计为 1.40 至 1.41 亿泰铢。结果，来自彼察汶、华富里和曼谷的四名僧人被逮捕。至少一名僧人后来以 150 万泰铢的保释金获得保释。

Criticism of the NOB grew quickly, as its director Pongporn came under attack. He was seen to vilify Buddhist monks. Under pressure of pro-Buddhist organizations such as the Thailand Buddhists Federation, he was temporarily removed from his position in August 2017, only to be re-appointed one month later.

公众对 NOB（国家佛教办公室）的批评迅速增加。国家佛教办公室的负责人蓬蓬受到了攻击，因为人们看到他诋毁针对僧人。在泰国佛教徒联合会等亲佛教组织的压力下，他于 2017 年 8 月被临时免职，仅在一个月后重新任命。

On 18 July 2018, another monk in the second investigation was summoned, accused of illegally transferring government funds to another temple, not his own. This monk had a leading position in Wat Phichaiyat. As of 19 July 2018, the monk was still at large.

2018 年 7 月 18 日，第二次调查中的另一名僧人被传唤，被指控非法将政府资金转移到另一座寺庙，而不是他自己的寺庙。这位僧人在披柴耶寺居于领导地位。截至 2018 年 7 月 19 日，该僧人仍在逃。

After his re-appointment, Pongporn started a third investigation of illegal dealings, and reported that another ten temples had had their budget cut off in the same manner as the temples in the second investigation. Pongporn revealed the names of only three temples, however. He further stated that the officers held responsible were the same suspects as before, who worked together in a network. Apart from problems with returning budget, another problem was found concerning eight monks from three temples:

重新任命后，蓬蓬开始对非法交易进行第三次调查，并报告说另外 10 座寺庙的预算与第二次调查中的寺庙相同。然而，蓬蓬只透露了三座寺庙的名字。他进一步表示，被追究责任的官员和以前的一样，都是在一个网络中一起工作的嫌疑人。除了返还预算的问题外，还发现了另外一个问题，涉及三个寺庙的八位僧人：

Phra Prom Dilok, a member of the Supreme Sangha Council, monastic head of the Bangkok Region and abbot of Wat Sam Phraya;

Phra Prom Dilok，最高僧伽委员会成员，曼谷地区的寺院负责人和三披耶寺的住持；
Phra Prom Methee, also a member of the Sangha Council and head of the upper central and northern ecclesiastical regions, abbot of Wat Samphantawong;

Phra Phrom Methee，也是僧伽委员会的成员，中上和北部教区的负责人，三攀他旺寺的住持；
Phra Prom Sitthi, also a member and head of some northeastern regions, abbot of Wat Saket;

Phra Prom Sitthi，也是一些东北地区的成员和负责人，金佛寺的住持；
another four monks who were assistant-abbots of Wat Saket;

另外四名僧人，是金佛寺的助理方丈；
another monk who was a secretary to Phra Prom Dilok.

另一位僧人，他是 Phra Prom Dilok 的秘书。
In some news reports, another four unnamed accused monks are listed.

在新闻报道中，还列出了另外四名未透露姓名的被告僧侣。

These eight monks were accused of using the funds provided for purposes other than initially requested. The government funding was spent on Buddhist projects, but for projects which had already been funded. The funds were not spent on the projects for which the budget was initially requested. In these cases, no money was withheld, though civil servants had withheld money in other, legitimate budget requests from the three temples. As the investigations continued, they were split into two task forces: the NOB continued its internal investigation and the National Anti-Corruption Commission cooperated with the Counter Corruption Division to continue the investigations of parties not part of the NOB. Pongporn made a press statement saying that a commission would be established in the NOB to deal with the suspects. Misappropriated funds to this point were estimated to be 169 million baht.

这八名僧人被指控将所提供的资金用于最初申请用途以外的目的。政府资金用于佛教项目，却用于政府已经资助过的项目。这些资金没有用于最初申请预算的项目。在这些案件中，没有任何回扣资金，尽管涉腐官员已经从三座寺庙的其他合法预算申请中拿了回扣。随着调查的继续，他们分成两个工作组：NOB（国家佛教办公室）继续其内部调查，国家反腐败委员会与反腐败司合作，继续对不属于 NOB （国家佛教办公室）的各方进行调查。蓬蓬发表了一份新闻声明，称将在 NOB （国家佛教办公室）中设立一个委员会来处理嫌疑人。到目前为止，挪用的资金估计为 1.69 亿泰铢。

In May 2018, authorities charged three members of the Sangha Council with government budget fraud and money laundering, citing that money was found to be transferred to accounts of supporters of their temples. The police issued arrest warrants, and the monks were to be removed from the council on 30 May 2018. Preceding that decision, on 25 May, Phra Prom Dilok, as well as the three deputy abbots, were arrested, defrocked, and held in custody. (Thai law states that monks cannot be jailed, therefore any monk taken into custody must be defrocked if denied release on bail, even before guilt is determined.) The detention was to last for twelve days. There were other monks who saw their budget cut off and who were accused of being involved in the scam, but some of them argued that they were misled by officials, who stated that the budget returned to them was to be used for other temples.

2018 年 5 月，当局指控僧伽委员会的三名僧人犯有政府预算欺诈和洗钱罪，理由是发现资金被转移到他们寺庙护法居士的账户中。警方发出逮捕令，这些僧人于 2018 年 5 月 30 日从僧伽委员会被除名。在该决定之前，5 月 25 日，Phra Prom Dilok 以及三名副方丈被逮捕、解除职务并被拘留. （泰国法律规定僧侣不能入狱，因此，如果被拒绝保释，即使在正式确定有罪之前，任何被拘留的僧侣都必须先解除其僧团职务。）拘留了 12 天。其中有的僧人亲眼见到预算被消减并被指控涉嫌诈骗，但也有僧人辩解说是被政府官员误导了，说归还给他们政府官员的预算是要用于其他寺庙。

The arrests of the four monks accused of money fraud were combined with the arrest of Phra Buddha Issara, a hardline, ultra-royalist monk who had taken part in the 2014 Thailand coup d'état. He was from a fourth temple called Wat Oh Noy. Many officials were surprised by this arrest, because Phra Buddha Issara was known to have close ties with the ruling junta and had encouraged Pongporn's investigations into fraud in the first place. The monk was arrested on charges brought against him in 2014, including alleged robbery and detaining officials. The most serious charge against him, filed in 2017, was unauthorized use of the royal seal. Politician and activist Paiboon Nititawan expressed surprise that this arrest happened at the same time as the arrest of the four monks, but argued that it was unrelated to it. News commentator Chaturong Jong-asa argued that Thai authorities arrested the monks accused of fraud together with Phra Buddha Issara in order to please multiple political interest groups at the same time, without any group feeling left out.

四名被控诈骗的僧侣被逮捕，同时还逮捕了参与 2014 年泰国政变的强硬、极端保皇派僧侣：依萨拉帕佛。他来自第四座寺庙，名为吴诺寺。许多官员对这次逮捕感到惊讶，因为众所周知，依萨拉帕佛与执政的军政府关系密切，并且一开始就鼓励蓬蓬对佛教寺庙欺诈行为进行调查。这位僧人于 2014 年因涉嫌抢劫和拘留官员等指控而被捕。2017 年对他提出的最严重指控是未经授权使用皇家印章。政治家和活动家Paiboon Nititawan对这次逮捕以及逮捕四名僧侣同时发生表示惊讶，但辩称与此无关。新闻评论员查图荣钟阿萨辩称，泰国当局是为了同时取悦多个政治利益集团，所以一起逮捕了依萨拉帕佛和其他被指控欺诈的僧侣，以确保没有任何一个集团被排除在外。