Thailand's Buddhist temples are symbols of peace and faith. But behind the golden statues lies a growing web of corruption, embezzlement, and money laundering.

In this episode of Mekong Matters, we speak to Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, a specialist in Buddhism and constitutional law, about recent scandals and what is being done.

🎙️ Hosted by Trang Nguyen

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Chapters:

0:00 - Thai faith remains high despite scandals

0:36 - The “Miss Golf” case and wave of temple financial crimes

2:01 - Why this scandal is different: systemic links and scale

3:33 - Are senior abbots “untouchable”?

4:58 - Cultural reverence and immunity for monks

5:09 - What regulations exist for temple finances?

6:38 - Why enforcement fails: temple size and low financial literacy

8:16 - Monastic vs. civil property rules—and the abbot’s discretion

9:48 - Temple revenue streams: donations, rents, and no audit trail

10:36 - Real solutions: accounting standards, audits, journalism

11:56 - New measures: cash limits and e-donation trails

13:03 - Wrap-up

🎙️ Hosted by Trang Nguyen

Guest:

Dr. Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang — Specialist in Buddhism and constitutional law, focusing on governance, religious regulation, and the Thai Sangha.

Key takeaways:

This is a structural governance problem, not isolated misconduct. - Regulations exist on paper; enforcement and capacity are the weaknesses. - Transparent accounting, electronic payment trails, and independent oversight are essential. - Cultural deference to monks hinders scrutiny and accountability.

#Thailand #Buddhism #TempleScandal #FinancialCrime #Corruption #ThaiSangha #Governance #SoutheastAsia #MekongMatters #OrganizedCrime

Resources and links:

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime: https://globalinitiative.net

The Observatory of Illicit Economies in Asia-Pacific: https://globalinitiative.net/observatory/apa-obs/

Mekong Matters podcast page: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0tpdNHXq-KOsVwPERwt_jOa

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This podcast has been funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The views expressed in this publication are the author's alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.