Contractor Alleges Fraud by Self-Proclaimed 'Dr. Merit' in Temple Construction Scam

A 59-year-old contractor from Buriram, identified as Mr. Amnuay, has sought assistance from a local volunteer group after allegedly being defrauded by a woman claiming to be a 'Dr. Merit' (Dr. Sai Bun). According to reports from Khaosod Online, the woman, who presented herself as a wealthy philanthropist known for organizing religious merit-making ceremonies, hired Mr. Amnuay to plaster a temple under construction.

Upon completing the work, the contractor was reportedly denied payment of 100,000 baht, leaving him unable to pay his eight-man crew. When Mr. Amnuay contacted the temple’s abbot, he discovered that the abbot was unaware of the hiring process. The abbot stated that the woman had volunteered to manage the construction project independently, explicitly excluding temple officials from the process, and had allegedly misappropriated the temple’s official seal to facilitate her activities.

For residents and visitors, this case highlights the importance of verifying the legitimacy of construction contracts and charitable projects involving religious sites. While the contractor has filed a police report and is preparing a civil lawsuit, the full extent of the woman's activities remains under investigation. It is currently unclear how many other contractors may have been affected by this individual, and authorities are working to determine the scope of the alleged fraud.