Bangkok: Public prosecutors have taken Nopparat, the former director of the Office of Buddhism, to court over an alleged temple fund embezzlement case. They have opposed granting bail due to Nopparat's previous flight to the United States and subsequent extradition back to Thailand for prosecution.
According to Thai News Agency, Nopparat Benjawattanan, the former Director-General of the National Office of Buddhism, faces charges from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) related to embezzlement of funds intended for temple restoration and development. Dubbed the "Temple Kickback Case," the allegations date back to 2013. Nopparat fled to the United States in April, but was arrested in Texas following a Thai extradition request and returned to Thailand on September 27th. This morning, prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney General's Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) brought him to the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 7 to formally file charges and opposed his bail.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has indicted Nopparat in multiple temple fund embezzlement cases spanning from 2017 to 2024. Additionally, in 2020, the NACC charged him with possessing unusual wealth. Investigations revealed that during his tenure as Director-General of the National Office of Buddhism from October 1, 2010, to September 30, 2014, Nopparat and his close associates accumulated deposits and assets exceeding 575 million baht, the sources of which remain undisclosed.