Spiritual Medium 'Mor Bee' Grilled by Police Over Alleged Donation Misuse

BANGKOK, Aug 8 (TNA) - Thai celebrity spiritual medium "Mor Bee" met with police for seven hours to answer questions about allegations of fraud and the misuse of donations intended for Wat Phra Bat Namphu. 

The investigation into Seksan "Mor Bee" Supsuebsakul began in March after complaints surfaced about suspicious withdrawals from his personal bank account, which he used to collect money for the temple.

According to police, Mor Bee had been collecting donations since 2017, claiming the funds were for the temple's charitable activities. However, investigators found that out of more than 200 million baht withdrawn, some of the money was believed to have never been delivered to the temple.

At the same time, the temple's abbot, Luang Por Alongkot, held a press conference to announce that the temple's board would be pursuing legal action if any wrongdoing is confirmed. He also stated that all personal donation accounts must be closed, and all future donations must go through the temple's official e-Donation system to ensure transparency.

Wat Phra Bat Namphu is a temple renowned for its long-standing and compassionate mission of providing care and a final home for HIV/AIDS patients who have been rejected by their families.

Thai Buddhism has recently been hit by a series of scandals involving monks and temples, ranging from embezzlement of millions of baht to a high-profile sex and blackmail case, which has shaken public trust and prompted calls for stricter oversight of the clergy's finances. -819 (TNA)