A former Buddhist monk in Thailand has been convicted of embezzlement over donations intended for a hospice he founded to care for people with HIV/AIDS. The court sentences him to the maximum prison term of 50 years, after finding that he misused funds meant for the charity.
Multiple outlets report that the hospice had gained public praise, but prosecutors alleged that money raised for the project was diverted. South China Morning Post adds that Alongkot Poonmook—formerly known as Phra Ratcha Wisutthiprachanat—was arrested last year, along with an associate, Seksan Sapsubbsakul, who worked as a fundraiser. The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases convicts both men, according to the same reporting, though details of the associate’s sentence are not fully specified across the excerpts provided.
While the outlets share the same core facts—conviction for misusing hospice donations and the 50-year maximum term—their coverage varies slightly in naming, background, and the extent of case details included.
