DSI sets May 26 for Dhammajayo to surrender

DSI sets May 26 for Dhammajayo to surrender

Monks and Buddhists join a religious ceremony at Wat Dhammakaya in April 2016. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Monks and Buddhists join a religious ceremony at Wat Dhammakaya in April 2016. (Bangkok Post file photo)

The Department of Special Investigation has told Phra Dhammajayo, the abbot of Wat Dhammakaya, to report to hear charges against him on May 26, or face legal action from "light to heavy-handed".

Speaking after a meeting of investigators, Pol Col Paisit said the DSI would send a letter to Phra Dhammajayo advising him to surrender on May 26.

If the monk complies, the investigators will consider granting him temporary release on bail. If he doesn't respond, they will take legal action against him, he said.

On Tuesday, the Criminal Court approved the warrant for the arrest of Phra Dhammajayo. He was charged with being involved in money laundering and receiving stolen property worth 1.2 billion baht in connection with the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative embezzlement case.

"We'll take legal steps, from light to heavy-handed, as necessary. We won't send authorities to arrest him under the arrest warrant because we do not want a confrontation with his disciples. We've given him some time to enter the judicial process. But if the monk again doesn't come, the DSI will hold a meeting to determine steps to be taken," said the DSI chief.

Pol Col Paisit said the DSI had strictly followed legal procedures in this case, starting by issuing a summons. When the Wat Dhammakaya abbot did not respond, the second summons was issued. After he again failed to respond, the DSI asked the Criminal Court to approve an arrest warrant, but the court rejected the request and advised the DSI to issue another summons.

After the monk failed to answer the summons for the third time, the DSI managed to obtain court approval for an arrest warrant, he said.

Pol Col Paisit said he was ready to explain the case to Phra Dhammajayo's disciples. The DSI had filed more than 10 cases against Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, former chairman of the KCUC, in connection with the embezzlement. Some of the cases had been decided by the court while the others were still being heard, he said. 

Asked whether the case against Phra Dhammajayo could lead to his being defrocked, Pol Col Paisit said that was a monastic issue and the DSI would not interfere.

On the possibility the monk might flee, Pol Col Paisit said the DSI had notified all related agencies including the Immigration Police Bureau to keep an eye on him.

The DSI was also not worried about possible protests by Wat Dhammakaya disciples. Security agencies had been keeping an eye on them, he said.

On complaints filed by the disciples against the DSI for abuse of authority, Pol Lt Col Pakorn Sucheevakul, the DSI's chief investigator, said the DSI had acted according to law and advised them to send representatives to listen to the DSI's explanations.

On the disciples' question why the DSI insisted in taking legal action against Phra Dhammajayo since the KCUC had admitted the temple had returned the money, Pol Lt Col Pakorn said since the wrongdoing had been committed the legal action could not be rescinded.

He said the Criminal Court's approval of the arrest warrant showed that the court had been convinced by evidence of money laundering and embezzlement in the KCUC, involving five suspects.

Two of the suspects were summoned by the DSI to hear the charges on Wednesday, he added.

Disciples at Wat Dhammakaya have demanded the Department of Special Investigation properly explain why an arrest warrant has been issued for the temple's abbot at a press conference on Wednesday. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)

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