Prosecutors on Thursday arraigned Ong-art Thamnitha, the former spokesman for Wat Phra Dhammakaya’s disciples, on charges of instigating public disorder in connection with the Department of Special Investigation’s failed raid on the temple last year to arrest former abbot Phra Dhammajayo.
Public prosecutors indicted him in the Criminal Court, accusing Mr Ong-art, 35, of violating Section 116 of the Criminal Code.
According to the suit, the incitment occurred during a speech Mr Ong-art made to followers on the plan by the DSI and police to arrest Phra Dhammajayo, the founder and former abbot of Wat Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani.
Phra Dhammajayo is wanted under several arrest warrants, including one for alleged money-laundering in connection with the multi-billion-baht embezzlement of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative.
In his speech, Mr Ong-art told the disciples that the DSI-led operation would lead to violence between state officials and the temple, after the DSI met on Dec 9 last year to discuss a plan to arrest the former abbot.
His speech was also broadcast on the Facebook account of the temple’s disciples. He accused authorities of treating the temple unfairly in suspending broadcasts of Dhammakaya Media Channel (DMC) satellite TV channel.
The defendant’s speech misled his audience and Facebook users ro believe that state officials acted violently and unfairly against the temple, and this would stir public unrest, according to the prosecution lawsuit.
Mr Ong-art denied the charges and said he would fight the case. His lawyer Winyat Chartmontri applied for bail, offering a surety of 400,000 baht. The court later approved the request on the condition Mr Ong-art remains in the country.
His lawyer agreed to the conditions and placed the money as surety.
The court has set Feb 26 for the pretrial examination of evidence and witness lists.