The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) says it will examine property on the Dhammakaya temple premises for suspected links to the 12-billion-baht Klongchan Credit Union embezzlement scandal.
It is also seeking to freeze the assets of those who received money allegedly embezzled from the co-operative.
Amlo secretary-general Pol Col Sihanart Prayoonrat revealed Monday that the decision following a meeting on Feb 23 with the National Reform Council committee on religious affairs, led by Paiboon Nititawan.
The Amlo secretary-general said the office is ready to act on the committee's recommendation that it pursues civil lawsuits against and freezes the assets of those suspected of receiving embezzled money.
Dhammachayo: Target of Buddha Isra
The temple and its abbot allegedly received more than 900 million baht in donations from Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, the former chairman of the Klongchan Credit Union Co-operative, who is accused of embezzling 12 billion baht from the co-operative.
Pol Col Sihanart said the Amlo found eight cheques totalling 348.78 million baht had been paid into Phra Dhammachayo's bank accounts.
Six more cheques totalling 436 million baht were also made out to Wat Phra Dhammakaya, and another 119.02 million baht to Phra Palat Wichan, Phra Dhammachayo's assistant.
The monk also is alleged to have received stolen cash in the form of donations.
The Amlo will investigate whether the construction of buildings on the temple's premises was funded by the donations, Pol Col Sihanart said.
The probe will take some time because the temple's compound covers vast areas, he said.
The Klongchan co-operative is pursuing a civil lawsuit against Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Phra Dhammachayo and his assistant, Phra Palat Wichan.
It wants them to return 933 million baht allegedly embezzled from the co-operative by Mr Supachai and his accomplices.
Also on Monday, Phra Buddha Isra filed complaints with the Crime Suppresson Division accusing Phra Dhammachayo of defrauding people and posing as a monk in violation of the Criminal Code.
Phra Buddha Isra cited a letter written in 1999 by the late supreme patriarch to the Supreme Sangha Council which suggested the former abbot be defrocked for violating the Buddhist monk's code of conduct.
The letter said the monk had refused to transfer assets to Wat Phra Dhammakaya, among them 1,500 rai of land donated by his followers.
The late supreme patriarch's letter caught prosecutors' attention and Phra Dhammachayo later agreed to turn over the land and assets in 2006. Prosecutors withdrew lawsuits against him in August 2006.
Kosolwat Inthuchanyong, deputy spokesman of the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), said he will ask Attorney-General Trakul Winitnaiyaphak for permission to examine the decision to abandon lawsuits against Phra Dhammachayo nine years ago.
The decision to abandon the case was authorised in 2006 by then attorney-general Pachara Yutithamdamrong.
OAG spokesman Kosolwat Inthuchanyong vowed to explain details of the decision and on what grounds Mr Pachara justified it.