Followers of embattled abbot Phra Dhammajayo confirm that there will be no "human shield" to protect the abbot if authorities are to carry out an arrest.
But they are prepared to sue the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for malfeasance in retaliation for the arrest warrant issued for the abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
The DSI said it will grant bail to the abbot if he surrenders by May 26.
Upset over the arrest warrant, the abbot's disciples held a media briefing Wednesday and revealed their next move after the Criminal Court on Tuesday approved the DSI's request for the abbot's arrest warrant.
The 72-year-old abbot is accused of involvement in money laundering and receiving stolen property worth 1.2 billion baht in connection with the 12-billion-baht Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative embezzlement case.
Speaking on behalf of the disciples, Ong-art Thamnitha said the disciples agreed that the DSI's investigation and the allegations brought against Phra Dhammajayo were unjust and unlawful.
They will file a suit against DSI authorities handling the case accusing them of malfeasance and abuse of authority, Mr Ong-art said.
He also said that while almost 50,000 female followers have camped out in the temple, they will not be used as a "human shield". He said the followers were only taking part in a mass ordination ceremony.
"We confirm that there will be no confrontation with authorities and no force will be used. The temple's followers do not want the temple's image to be ruined. We will fight the case according to the legal process," Mr Ong-art said.
Critics speculated earlier that the female followers were mobilised to the temple to prevent the abbot from being arrested after the court approved an arrest warrant.
Mr Ong-art also said the abbot's followers were saddened that the arrest warrant had been issued even though Phra Dhammajayo had been sick.
The disciples also wanted the DSI to explain why it called medical records issued by doctors at Saha Clinic Rattanavej Medical Centre "unreliable".
Speaking after a meeting of DSI investigators Wednesday, DSI chief Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang said the DSI would send a letter to Phra Dhammajayo advising him to surrender and acknowledge the charges against him on May 26.
If the monk complies, the investigators will consider granting him temporary release on bail. If he does not respond, they will take legal steps against him, he said.
"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 doesn't turn up again, 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 all necessary legal procedures in this case, starting by issuing a summons. When the abbot failed to respond, the second summons was issued. But when the court rejected the first request for an arrest warrant, the DSI issued 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. 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.
A statement issued Wednesday in the name of the abbot's followers said that after the DSI took up the case and finished the probe, it forwarded the case to prosecutors, with Phra Dhammajayo among the suspects.
They said the prosecutors reviewed the case on Jan 29 without charging the monk.
But, on Feb 18, DSI officials released a public statement that they would charge Phra Dhammajayo for receiving stolen property. The lawyer representing the abbot wrote to ask the prosecutors if DSI officials had the authority to do so.
The prosecutor replied that DSI officials will have to obtain additional evidence and submit their findings. DSI officials cannot construct a new case on their own, according to the disciples' statement.