Thai Buddhist monk caught having sex with lover inside temple admits relationship as cops uncover £5m haul

Thai Buddhist monk caught having sex with lover inside temple admits relationship as cops uncover £5m haul WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT. Phra Wachirayan Wi, 66, renounced material possessions and took a vow of celibacy as a Buddhist monk - now he's accused of having ain intimate relationship and misusing temple funds A Thai Buddhist monk who was caught having sex with his lover inside his temple has confessed to being in a two year relationship with the woman as police discovered a haul of cash, jewellery and gold worth £5million. Footage of Phra Wachirayan Wi, of the 14th Century temple Wat Phutthaisawan in the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, sleeping with the woman on a table in his monastic residence circulated across Thai media last week. Then on Thursday, he was arrested on charges including embezzlement and money laundering, said lead police investigator Pattanasak Bupphasuwan, along with the woman he was caught with, identified as Punyavee Rungrueang. The 66-year-old Buddhist abbot, who renounced material possessions and took a vow of celibacy, admitted during questioning that his romance with the woman, 47, has been going on for two years. Punyavee Rungrueang has been accused of helping convert and conceal the money, which was intended for the monk's monastery. Police initially uncovered 92million baht (£2.1million), but they say the figure has since climbed to 214million baht (£4.8million). Along with the cash, authorities also recovered a haul of valuable items including gold, necklaces, rings, gemstones and even land deeds. The investigation into Phra Wachirayan began in July after an anonymous tip was sent accusing him of misconduct and misusing temple funds. Commander of the Royal Thai Police's Crime Suppression Division, Pattanaasak, said investigators had found two streams of money linked to donation receipts issued in the temple's name. It is alleged he carried out a scam by issuing receipts for temple renovations and payments for amulets and other sacred objects in the temple's name. Around 89million baht (£2million) was donated for temple renovations, with another 2.8million baht (£63,000) in payments for amulets and sacret objects. Pattanasak told a news conference: "The money from both streams did not enter the temple's account. Not a single baht." "We will expand the investigation to identify other people involved and restore public confidence in Buddhism," said Central Investigation Bureau commissioner Nattasak Chaowanasai. The abbott was defrocked shortly after his arrest and has yet to publicly comment on the case. Wat Phutthaisawan is a prominent royal monastery with a large following including government officials, police and military personnel. Built in 1354, the temple managed to survive destruction during the collapse of Ayutthaya in 1767, preserving its rich history.