Ex Office of Buddhism chief given 20 years in prison for temple fund graft

13 Sept 22:52 Key points summarised by AI

Former National Office of Buddhism (N.O.B.) chief Panom Sornsilp and former director Wasawat Kittithirasith received 20-year prison sentences for corruption involving temple funds.
Two intermediaries, Jesada Wongmek and Charin Mingkwan, were also sentenced for their roles in the illicit scheme.
The court mandated Panom, Wasawat, and Jesada to collectively return 12 million baht in ill-gotten gains to the N.O.B.
The scandal, uncovered in 2017, involved officials and brokers demanding a 75% kickback from temples allocated funds for renovation.

Thai Army proposes sending cadets to China for military training

Yesterday 20:52 Key points summarised by AI

The Thai Army proposes sending cadets to China's Academy of Armoured Forces to strengthen military cooperation.
Discussions included exchanging military curricula, expertise, and information on cyber, space affairs, AI, and UAV technology.
Both nations plan to share knowledge and experience in combating online crime and scam networks.
China reiterated its neutral stance on the Thai-Cambodian border situation, supporting peaceful resolution efforts.