National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda returned to Bangkok from Frankfurt on Wednesday -- without the fugitive former monk from Wat Samphanthawong he hoped to escort back to Thai soil from Germany.
The police chief left for Germany on Sunday with other senior officers in a bid to escort former Phra Phrom Methee back to the country to face charges connected with the temple fund embezzlement scandal. The former assistant abbot had been detained by German immigration authorities at Frankfurt airport at Thailand's request.
But the former monk, whose layman name is Chamnong Iamintra, has reportedly applied for asylum in the European country after fleeing Thailand.
Police sources said other officers accompanying Pol Gen Chakthip will return on later dates. Pol Lt Col Jiraphob Phuridet, the deputy Crime Suppression Division chief, will arrive in Bangkok on Thursday. Pol Lt Gen Sutthipong Wongpin, the Immigration Bureau chief, and Pol Col Worawat Amornwiwat, a deputy Special Branch Bureau commander, will follow on Friday.
The fugitive ex-monk had left Wat Samphanthawong before police raided the temple on May 24. He crossed the Mekong River to Khammouane province in Laos and later caught a flight from Phnom Penh to Frankfurt.