India, Sept. 12 -- A respected Buddhist abbot in Thailand has gone from leading one of Ayutthaya's best-known temples to facing serious criminal allegations after a police investigation into missing temple funds uncovered CCTV footage involving a female associate.

Phra Washirayan Wi, 66, the former abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan, was arrested on Thursday, September 10, in connection with the alleged diversion of more than 92 million baht in temple money. Police also arrested 47-year-old Punyavee Rungrueang, who investigators suspect helped him conceal or move the money.

The investigation took an unexpected turn when officers examining evidence from the monk's quarters found CCTV footage showing Wachirayan and Punyavee in an intimate relatio...