Anutin’s US$90,700 Amulet Back in Spotlight After Monk’s Arrest
Anutin’s US$90,700 Amulet Back in Spotlight After Monk’s Arrest
BANGKOK, Sept. 14, 2026 — Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has come under renewed scrutiny on social media after old photographs resurfaced showing him wearing a rare Jatukam Ramathep gold amulet valued at about US$90,700, created by a monk who has since been arrested over alleged temple embezzlement and other misconduct.
The photographs, taken in October 2023, show Anutin—then serving as deputy prime minister and interior minister—displaying the amulet to reporters while leading Bhumjaithai Party lawmakers to watch a movie. At the time, he described the pendant as an example of Thailand’s “soft power.”
The amulet is a 2006 gold edition of the Jatukam Ramathep “Nuea Duang” series, produced by Wat Phutthaisawan in Ayutthaya. The pendant was reported to be worth around 3 million baht (US$90,700) and is highly sought after among Thai amulet collectors.
The images have resurfaced after police arrested the former abbot of Wat Phutthaisawan, Phra Wachirayan Wi, also known as Luang Pho Atichot Dhammawaro, in connection with allegations that more than 92 million baht in temple funds were embezzled.
Police also arrested a 47-year-old female associate in the investigation and have been examining alleged financial transfers and assets connected to the case.
The case has also drawn attention to the monk’s role as the creator of the popular Nuea Duang amulet series. Thai media reports say his creations had become particularly popular among collectors, with some rare pieces commanding exceptionally high prices.
Police have separately alleged that CCTV footage from the former abbot’s private quarters showed him engaging in sexual activity with the female associate. The allegations are part of the ongoing criminal investigation.
The renewed attention on Anutin’s amulet has so far centred on the connection between the pendant and its controversial creator, rather than any allegation that the prime minister was involved in the alleged crimes.
When Anutin displayed the pendant publicly in 2023, he presented it in the context of Thai cultural craftsmanship and “soft power.” The resurfaced photographs have now taken on a different significance following the monk’s arrest and the investigation into his finances.
The episode has also put the spotlight on Thailand’s lucrative Buddhist amulet market, where rare pieces can command millions of baht and attract collectors, devotees and prominent public figures.
