The Anti-Money Laundering Office has frozen about 135 million baht seized from defrocked senior monks suspected of temple fund embezzlement and a 1.46-billion-baht building at Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
The office announced on its website Friday that its transaction committee had frozen for 90 days, pending an investigation, 132.86 million baht from seven bank accounts of Thongchai Sukkho, formerly Phra Phrom Sitthi, an ex-abbot of Wat Saket.
It also seized 162,151.76 baht from an account of former Phra Phrom Methee, ex-assistant abbot of Wat Samphanthawong; 1.74 million baht from an account of Uean Klinsalee or former Phra Phrom Dilok who is an ex-abbot of Wat Sam Phraya; and 27,876.08 baht from an account of Therd Wongcha-um, former Phra Wichit Thammaporn who is an ex-assistant abbot of Wat Saket.
The seizure was set from May 23 to Aug 20.
The Amlo also froze the Master Nun Chand Khonnokyoong Centennial Building at Wat Phra Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani province as its construction was funded by 1.46 billion baht allegedly embezzled from Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative.
Authorities found that convicted Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, former chair of the cooperative, had embezzled the money and transferred it through 27 cheques to the accounts of Phra Dhammajayo, former abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, and a woman identified as Sasithorn Chokeprasit. The money was paid for the construction of the building.