PATHUM THANI -- About 100 members of the Buddhist Relations Association on Wednesday filed a petition with the provincial Damrongtham complaints centre seeking justice for Phra Dhammajayo, the abbot of Wat Dhammakaya in Khlong Luang district.
The petition was received by Tawatchai Srithong, chief of the provincial office.
The petitioners, led by association president Adisak Wannasin, said Phra Dhammajayo had been unfairly treated by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) which has accused him of money laundering and receiving stolen property in connection with the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC) embezzlement scandal.
The abbot is allegedly among the recipients of 878 cheques worth a combined 11 billion baht drawn by former cooperative chairman Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, who admitted siphoning money from the cooperative's accounts during 2013 and has been sentenced by the Criminal Court to 16 years in jail.
Mr Adisak said the disciples of Wat Dhammakaya had raised a fund of 684.78 million baht to pay back KCUC. The KCUC, in response, had withdrawn a lawsuit against Phra Dhammajayo and the temple, and written a letter of intent in not wanting to pursue either a criminal or civil suit against them, he said.
The disciples considered the case to have been closed. They did not understand why the DSI had insisted in taking legal action against Phra Dhammajayo, said Mr Adisak.
He said the DSI had not given Phra Dhammajayo due justice.
Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said the Dhammakaya disciples had the right to lodge the complaint.
Those who still had questions about why the DSI had pursued the case could send representatives to the DSI to seek an explanation.
Gen Paiboon said the DSI had issued a new summons for Phra Dhammajayo to report to the DSI to acknowledge the charges on May 16, after the Criminal Court had rejected its request for a warrant to arrest the monk.
If the abbot failed to show up again on May 16, the DSI would again ask the court to issue a warrant for his arrest. The DSI would continue to do this because it has no authority to issue a warrant by itself, he added.
Phra Dhammajayo has repeatedly pleaded temple business and ill health, through his representatives, in failing to keep appointments to hear the charges against him.
