A lawyer for Wat Pailom insists the classic Panther car belonging to the temple's abbot, Phra Kru Palad Sitthiwat, was legally imported from the US.
Supapattarapoj Nitisathorn, the lawyer, said Tuesday the vintage car was given to the abbot, also known as Luang Phi Namfon, by Somchet Khemmathat, a follower, as an exhibit for the temple to encourage more visitors.
He was speaking at a media briefing also attended by Luang Phi Namfon.
The move followed the Department of Special Investigation's (DSI) recent accusations of tax evasion involving the classic Panther, which thereby implicated the abbot.
The Panther was made by Panther Westwinds of Surrey, England, with nine models produced from 1972 through 1990.
According to the DSI, the frame of the vehicle was declared as a Panther and the engine as a Jaguar, but the car was actually a wholly-built unit from Panther, registered in the US.
In 2011, the abbot was invited to give moral support to a group of Thai restaurant owners, including Mr Somchet, in Los Angeles, the lawyer said.
Mr Somchet offered the frame of the vehicle, which was being displayed in front of his restaurant, to the abbot.
On Oct 9, 2011, the frame and some parts were shipped to Thailand to Charinthorn Pathakamin, the owner of a garage.
According to the lawyer, the used engine of the Jaguar and additional parts were shipped to Luang Phi Namfon in Thailand on Oct 28 the same year.
Termsak Pitithanasansombat, the abbot's attendant, paid the excise tax for the vehicle, he added.