00:00For over a decade, one of Thailand's most powerful religious figures stood at the center of a massive financial case,
00:06and then he vanished.
00:08This is the story of Prathamachayoh and Wat Prathamakai, a movement that grew into something far bigger than just its
00:15temple.
00:15We're talking about a religious empire just outside Bangkok, with a global following, billions in donations, an influence that reaches
00:23into business and politics.
00:26Supporters see it as a modern path to enlightenment.
00:28Critics say it's where faith starts to look a lot like power.
00:33Back in 2017, thousands of law enforcement officers surrounded the temple, trying to bring its leader in on money laundering
00:39charges.
00:40But his followers held their ground, and somehow, he was never found.
00:44Years passed, no arrests, no trial, no answers.
00:48And then, in March 2026, the case was officially dropped, not because he was proven innocent, but because the law
00:54simply ran out of time.
00:56So, maybe the real question isn't where he went, but what does it say about a system where power, faith,
01:03and influence can outlast accountability?
01:06Catch the full episode of The Signal on the Nation's online channels.
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