Thai Anti-Money Laundering Office Issues Freeze On Buddhist Monk's Assets

In Thailand earlier this week, the country's Anti-Money Laundering Office issued an order banning a Buddhist monk and his associates from transferring any assets out of their 16 bank accounts.  According to the Bangkok Post (July 3) and the Huffington Post (July 4), Luang Pu Nen Kham Chattiko, abbot of the Khantitham forest monastery, came under investigation after a widely viewed YouTube video showed him in a private jet wearing expensive accessories. The bank accounts at issue have been used for transactions amounting to 200 million bhat ($6.4 million US) each day. A Facebook group that called for investigation of the monk suspects that he has misused temple contributions.