Conviction Buddhist institutions and contexts Buddhist institutions and lineages Chợ Mới, An Giang, Vietnam · 2025

Vietnam: former deputy abbot convicted of abusing four child temple volunteers

Record class

Core record

Evidence status

Convicted

Authority role

former deputy abbot of a temple

Organization

Thành Hoa Temple

Spiritual nexus

The children volunteered at the temple under the deputy abbot's direct religious authority and supervision — the temple grounds and his office within them structured every offence.

Guru or spiritual-teacher authority
Pastoral or clerical authority

Evidence structure

Proceedings

2025-03-20 · conviction and sentence; appeal rejected

An Giang People's Court, Vietnam. Đoàn Quốc Thái, 47, dharma name Thích Phước Trí, former deputy abbot of Thành Hoa Temple, was convicted of repeatedly abusing four children — three boys and a girl, victims from age 12 — who volunteered at the temple between April 2018 and July 2024, exploiting unaccompanied moments, paying victims per incident, and recording some encounters. He received 17 years in total; an appeal was rejected.

Appellate history

2025 · undefined

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Documented coercion mechanisms

religious authority and supervision over child volunteers on temple grounds
payments per incident
recording of encounters

Primary record

Sources

national newspaper court reporting verdict and sentencing report 'Cựu phó trụ trì chùa Thành Hoa lĩnh 17 năm tù', VietnamNet, 20 Mar. 2025, corroborated by Tuổi Trẻ and Dân Trí.: Reports the conviction, the sentence, and the appeal's rejection.

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