Abbot called in over KCUC funds scandal

Abbot called in over KCUC funds scandal

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will call in Wat Phra Dhammakaya's abbot, Phra Dhammachayo, to acknowledge a charge of receiving stolen property in connection with the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC) embezzlement scandal.

Phra Kru Palad Sitthiwat, abbot of Wat Pailom in Nakhon Pathom, briefs reporters at his temple on Friday about his vintage Panther car which will be examined next week by the Department of Special Investigation. Officials are ramping up their efforts to check locally-assembled vehicles to determine whether they have been correctly taxed. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)

More than 878 cheques worth 11 billion baht were allegedly made out using KCUC funds and authorised by the cooperative chairman Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, who is suspected of siphoning money from the organisation.

According to investigators, 21 cheques worth about 1.2 billion baht were paid to the temple's network. This included 435 million baht to Phra Dhammachayo.

DSI director-general Paisit Wongmuang said on Friday the agency will start summoning suspects in the case next week. It would begin with Mr Supachai who faces theft charges.

The charge of receiving stolen property will be levelled against all those who received cheques, including Phra Dhammachayo, Pol Col Paisit said.

Meanwhile, DSI officials intend to examine a vintage car owned by Phra Kru Palad Sitthiwat, abbot of Wat Pailom in Nakhon Pathom, on Wednesday, Pol Col Paisit said.

The move is part of a DSI investigation into 6,000 locally-assembled cars to ensure they were registered legally and that no efforts had been made to evade tax.

Pol Col Paisit said the DSI will not inspect all 6,000 cars, only those where tax evasion  is suspected.

Pol Lt Col Korrawat Panprapakorn, director of the DSI's Bureau of Technology and Cyber Crime, who is leading the investigation, said he is in the process of briefing officers who will carry out the inspection.

Phra Kru Palad Sitthiwat, better known as Luang Phi Namfon, said he possesses an old British-made Panther which was donated by a follower who owned a Thai restaurant in the United States.

Luang Phi Namfon said on Friday he had asked the follower to take the vehicle to be checked by the DSI at Thailand Post's parking lot in Bangkok's Laksi district after  allegations about his vehicle came to light on Oct 25, 2013.

The DSI found nothing wrong with the vehicle, the monk said.

He said he was surprised and shocked when the DSI contacted him on Wednesday telling him to bring the car to DSI headquarters on Monday so that the vehicle could be checked next Wednesday.

He said he did not understand why the DSI wants to check his car again since it had already been examined and cleared. 

He said people always think he owns a Jaguar, though it is actually a Panther with a Jaguar engine.

The vehicle was previously registered in Saraburi, but was re-registered in Bangkok, he said. The monk also said he has never used the vehicle for personal use.

The car, which is in need of repair, is only put on display during important temple events, he said.

He said the vehicle tax of 11,700 baht is still paid every year.

The monk's lawyer, Suppatpoj Nitisasathon, said he would ask investigators to examine the car at the temple as the vehicle is not currently roadworthy.

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