A Buddhist monk reported to steal more than $260 000 from church’s account for blackjack game

According to Associated Press, the court hearing in a case of 38-year-old Hang Nguen Li, former president of Vietnam Buddhist Association of Louisiana state, will take place in March. Hang is accused of fraud in an attempt of funds embezzlement.

The matter is, that starting from 2010 Nguen, as the association president, was resident in one of its temples and had a $1000 salary. Moreover, thanks his position as a president, he had access to three bank accounts of the association, which he successfully had been using to steal money from for almost 2 years since January 2014 until august 2015. Hang spend the money for blackjack game, wasting more than $10 000 during one session. Thus, about $264 000 was stolen from association’s accounts.

Once the embezzlement official investigation started, Nguen submitted resignation, however, some time afterwards kept on stealing money. He was arrested in LaGuardia - NY airport - in January 2016, when he was changing to the flight to Canada.

First, the fraudster admitted his blame, however, Nguen suddenly made up his mind in the court and started denying everything:

“I totally disagree with the accusation. I would never steal from my own temple”, - claimed Nguen.