Former Phra Buddha Isara on Wednesday pleaded guilty to detaining and coercing two plainclothes policemen during an anti-government protest in 2014 and the Criminal Court set Oct 29 to announce judgement.
The public prosecutors' charges were read out in court to Suwit Thongprasert, 59, who was formerly abbot of Wat Or Noi in Nakhon Pathom province, and he pleaded guilty.
The court ordered an examination of his background and character, and said it would rule in the case at 9am on Oct 29.
Mr Suwit was arraigned on the detention and coercion charges on Aug 15, when he was released on bail of 200,000 baht.
He arrived at the court on Wednesday in a wheelchair, wearing white clothing, with a bandage covering his right eye, and a shaved head. He was said to be suffering from a herniated disc and osteoarthritis, and had recently undergone eye surgery.
He handed a letter to reporters. He wrote that he knew nothing about the detention and coercion of the policemen, but as a protest leader at the time he had to take responsibility and would compensate the two men to the best of his ability.
Mr Suwit led the protest against the Yingluck Shinawatra government in front of the Department of Special Investigation on Chaeng Wattana Road on Feb 11, 2014. His guards arrested and detained Pol Sub Lt Somkid Choeikamol and Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wachirapong Oonnualburapong.
The Special Branch policemen were collecting intelligence under cover at the protest site, but were caught, detained and assaulted to make them reveal their job and mission.
Pol Sub Lt Somkid suffered broken ribs and a ruptured liver and needed treatment for six weeks. Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wachirapong had bruises, skin abrasions and broken teeth and was treated for ten days. They lost valuables valued at 60,900 baht.
Prosecutors averred that Mr Suwit had been aware of their detention, which lasted several hours, and failed to order their release.