Female aide, 47, caught having sex with monk, 66, allegedly owns 2 houses just a few years after bankruptcy

The 47-year-old female aide who was caught in a sex scandal with a Thai abbot was reportedly a mother of three who had previously gone bankrupt.

She reportedly became rich just a few years after her discharge from bankruptcy, despite not having a stable job.

According to Bangkok Post, Punyavee Rungrueang and the monk, 66-year-old Phra Vajirayan, were accused of embezzling 100 million baht (S$3.8 million) from Wat Phutthaisawan, an ancient royal monastery in Ayutthaya's Muang district.

The pair has since been arrested.

Attended top university

According to Thai media Amarin TV, Punyavee attended a top university in the country 30 years ago.

She is a single mother and reportedly ran a business selling offerings for worship and making vows, which is believed to have been done with special permission from the abbot.

She was previously declared bankrupt in 2019 following a breakdown of her marriage and was discharged in 2022.

Just a few years after her discharge, authorities found she owned two houses worth about 4 million baht (S$153,320), along with a significant amount of cash and valuables.

This was despite her not having a stable job or business, police reportedly indicated.