According to the Thai newspaper 'National News' and the Associated Press, on October 7 local time, a Thai court ruled that Aron Kott, the former abbot of the Pabanumpa Temple in Thailand, and his associate 'Master B' were ordered to return more than 300 million Thai bahts (about 60 million RMB) in donations.
According to reports, the Thai court sentenced Alonkot to 742 years in prison, and ‘Master B’ was sentenced to 386 years and 1480 months in prison. However, these sentences were automatically reduced to the maximum legal sentence of 50 years. The charges against both individuals include embezzling donations given to the Paabanpu Temple and money laundering.
According to reports, in 1992, Aloncott established a hospice care hospital for AIDS patients. This hospital was considered a groundbreaking humanitarian project. However, with the development and launch of antiretroviral drugs for treating AIDS, the significance of this institution diminished.
Aloncot later expanded this hospice hospital to provide treatment for patients with other serious illnesses. The institution also operates several charitable programs that fund education for poor children.
Aloincott and "Master B" were arrested. The National newspaper
Aloncot and "Master B" were arrested on August 26, 2025. Earlier that month, Aloncot resigned as the abbot. He has been facing widespread controversy, with accusations of misusing and illegally diverting donations given to the monastery. Reports indicated that essential supplies, such as adult diapers for people living with HIV, were discarded.
