The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) may take joint civil action to pursue the assets of Wat Phra Dhammakaya and those of its embattled abbot, Phra Dhammajayo, according to a source.
The move comes after the discovery of evidence that showed more than 400 million baht from the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC) had been paid, in seven cheques, to a number of monks and people associated with Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
The 72-year-old abbot is facing an arrest warrant on charges of money laundering and receiving stolen property in connection with the multi-billion baht KCUC embezzlement.
The DSI last Thursday made its first attempt to arrest the abbot at the temple where he is allegedly holed up but failed as his followers gathered en masse and blocked authorities from entering.
At this point, investigators have found well over 1.6 billion baht has been paid to the suspects in 27 cheques. Prior evidence suggested the amount was 1.2 billion baht.
The authorities had so far pressed charges against the suspects for receiving 1.4 billion baht out of the 1.6 billion baht, said Pakorn Sucheevakun, director of the DSI's Bureau of Financial and Banking Crime. He said more charges will be pressed later concerning the rest of the money.
Flashback: Hundreds of members of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative were wiped out at a stroke in 2013 by the embezzlement of an estimated 12 billion baht by executives - apparently all handed to Phra Dhammajayo and his disciples. (File photo)
The Amlo and the DSI discussed at a meeting Tuesday their next move to take civil action in pursuit of the assets of Wat Phra Dhammakaya and Phra Dhammajayo, said the source.
Results of the meeting were not disclosed.
In another development, DSI chief Paisit Wongmuang confirmed the DSI was conducting a disciplinary probe against two former DSI investigators who were looking into the 12-billion-baht KCUC embezzlement case.
One of them was the head of the former DSI investigation team looking into the case, he said.
The two allegedly helped former KCUC chairman Supachai Srisupa-aksorn reclaim his ownership over land initially seized for inspection as part of the investigation and he had since resold the land, said Pol Col Paisit.
Total Access Communication Plc (DTAC) chief executive Lars Norling, meanwhile, clarified the role of Boonchai Bencharongkul, the company's chairman who triggered a public outcry over his recent show of support for Phra Dhammajayo.
He said Tuesday that Mr Boonchai is actually one of 12 members of DTAC's board but does not play any role in the firm's management.
Prakit Philangkasa, chairman of a committee rehabilitating the KCUC, said the cooperative plans to begin repaying members affected by the scandal from June 30.
