Police requested an arrest warrant Monday for a monk on suspicion of embezzling a massive amount of temple funds.

The case is likely to heighten concerns about corruption among Buddhist monks following a gambling and prostitution scandal involving the Jogye Order last week.

The suspect, surnamed Lee, misappropriated public funds while taking charge of payment for temple construction work in 2009, police said.

The 39-year-old, who used to be a monk of Daeheung Temple in Northern Gyeongsang Province, allegedly transferred 600 million won ($513,000) to his bank account in November 2009 and used the money on horse racing and other entertainment.

The Jogye Oder expelled Lee right after the incident.

Lee narrowly avoided being stripped of his position 10 years ago when he was spotted gambling. Instead, a chief monk forgave him after seven years of penitence.


(From news reports)