The Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) has found spending irregularities in a budget of more than 60 million baht for the funeral rites of Somdej Phra Buddhacharn, also known as Somdej Kiew.
OAG chief Pisit Leelawachiropas said Sunday that initial investigations into financial irregularities had found evidence of fraud.
Somdej Phra Buddhacharn, also known as Somdej Kiew, died Aug 10, 2013. His cremation was held last March.
The probe came after Chaithanapol Srijiwangsa, who represents the People's Network Organisation for the Security of the Nation, Religion and the King, lodged a complaint with Sansern Poljeak, secretary-general of National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) against Phra Phromsuthi, the abbot of Wat Sa Ket.
Mr Chaithanapol had accused Phra Phromsuthi of embezzling money for the rites, by diverting it to a housing project for the monk's relatives in Ayutthaya province.
Somdej Phra Buddhacharn is the former abbot of Wat Sa Ket who passed away in August, 2013.
The cremation (by royal flame) was performed on March 9 at Wat Thepsirintrawas temple.
The Yingluck Shinawatra cabinet on Jan 21 approved a budget of 67 million baht for the rites. The budget plan was proposed by the National Office of Buddhism (NOB).
Mr Pisit said he had written to Phra Phromsuthi, asking him for expenditure reports and budget documents for the funeral rites, but the abbot failed to provide them.
He then handed over a letter to Supreme Patriarch Somdej Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn, asking him to pressure Phra Phromsuthi to give him the documents. He was eventually successful.
Unusual financial activities were found in a budget of 15 million baht spent on Tripitaka books distributed at the funeral and a budget of 11 million baht spent on sets of altar tables that will be given to temples, Mr Pisit said.
A fraud inquiry by the NACC found state agencies and the private sector actually donated sets of altar tables via the organiser of the rites, he said.
Mr Pisit said he would expand the investigation to cover expenditure and donations made by people who attended the event.
He said he had submitted a report on the financial irregularities to the Supreme Patriarch.
The OAG's chief said the office had also written to the NOB about the matter.
He said the OAG had asked the NOB to step into the fraud investigation.
NOB chief Phanom Sornsilpa said his office had handed over details of financial records for the 67 million baht spent on the funeral rites to the OAG.
Phra Phromsuthi, meanwhile, said he was willing to be questioned in the probe.
The funeral ceremony and cremation (by royal fire) of Somdej Phra Buddhacharn, also known as Somdej Kiew, took place last March 7-10 at Wat Sa Ket. Photo shows the procession carrying the remains of the late monk to the temple for cremation. (Screen capture from DMC TV, photo from National Archives)