Former National Office of Buddhism (NOB) director Phanom Sornsilp was among nine people arrested on Wednesday during raids that targeted those allegedly involved in the temple fund embezzlement scandal.
Mr Phanom was arrested at his house in Nakhon Pathom's Sam Phran district.
He was among 10 suspects facing charges in connection with the scandal, including abuse of authority and violation of the Money Laundering Act.
Warrants for their arrest were sought by the police's Counter-Corruption Division (CCD) and Crime Suppression Division (CSD).
The raids targeted 10 locations where the suspects were believed to be staying.
The other eight apprehended were Chayapol Pongsida, a former deputy NOB chief; Boonlert Sopha, director of the Lampang provincial Buddhism office; Kaew Chittakob, director of the Ang Thong provincial Buddhism Office; Pattana Su-ammatmontri, a former Nakhon Pathom provincial Buddhism Office official; and Pornpen Kititharangkura, head of the NOB's administrative development unit.
Others were Wasawad Kittitheerasit, head of the NOB's temple renovation and development unit; Narongdej Chainet, director of the Sing Buri provincial Buddhism Office, as well as Jetsada Wongmek, a construction contractor.
Samut Prakan provincial Buddhism Office director, Pranom Kongpikul, meanwhile was reported to have left the country in June and has not yet returned.
Meanwhile, extradition is being sought to ensure former NOB director Nopparat Benjawatananun who fled to the US faces justice, a police source said.
CSD commander Maitree Chimcherd said the suspects arrested on Wednesday were placed in police custody and would be taken to the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases today where police will seek approval for their further detention.
Mr Chayapol said he was arrested probably because he supervised the NOB's 62-million-baht budget allocated to the embezzlement-hit Wat Sa Ket when he was deputy NOB chief in 2016, while Mr Phanom served as the director at the time.
Wat Sa Ket was among three temples in Bangkok raided on May 24 by CSD officers, who zeroed in on senior monks suspected of being involved in the scandal.
The other two temples were Wat Samphanthawong and Wat Sam Phraya.
Five were arrested during the raids, while former Wat Sa Ket abbot, Phra Phrom Sitthi and former Wat Sa Ket assistant abbot Phra Ratcha Upa-senapon turned themselves in to CSD police later.
Mr Chayapol said he was aware that senior monks at Wat Sa Ket had been arrested but he did not try to flee, adding that he performed his duties correctly.
Mr Pattana, meanwhile, was apprehended at his house in tambon Bang Krateuk in Nakhon Pathom's Sam Phran district.
A warrant for his arrest was approved on July 6.
When CSD officers arrived at his house, Mr Pattana opened the door and let them in.
He told police he was the person wanted under the warrant presented by officers.
Police searched his property and seized two laptops, four mobile phones, two tablets and a desktop computer for examination.
Inspector Nattapong Ampaijit of the CSD's Division 4, who led the arrest team, said the suspect cooperated during the search.
Mr Pattana said he was not involved in the offences and was ready to prove his innocence in court.
