Authorities in Chaiyaphum stepped up their search of a cult temple in Khon San district yesterday in the absence of the so-called "Phra Bida'', or spiritual father, whose bizarre treatments for illnesses included having his followers drink his urine and eat flakes of his skin.
Eleven corpses, said to be cult followers, were found on the premises when it was first searched on Sunday. Their cause of death was still being investigated as of press time, with post-mortems being carried out yesterday at the request of the provincial governor.
Deputy provincial governor Charnchai Sornsriwichai led police, soldiers, health and local officials in searching the temple -- a thatched house deep in the jungle in tambon Dong Klang of Khon San district of this northeastern province.
They had a search warrant issued by the Phu Khieo provincial court but the cult leader, 74-year-old Tawee Nanra, was not present.
He was released on 50,000-baht bail put up by his 62-year-old brother Thongthip Nanra on Monday after officials raided the temple and took him away. The Phu Khieo court set June 27 for his next appearance.
This followed reports the cult leader preached superstition and oddball treatments which his followers claimed could treat all manner of illnesses.
Police initially pressed four charges against Mr Tawee: trespassing on public land, breaching the Medicine Act, illegally transporting corpses, and holding gatherings made illegal under the emergency decree. Some news outlets reported the treatments included telling his followers to consume his urine, excrement and flakes of his skin for about 20 years.
Officials were divided into two teams to search the premises yesterday, the second day of their search for evidence of wrongdoing.
One team examined earthenware jars and containers found earlier. The jars contained what followers claimed was holy water used for scrubbing people's bodies as part of their treatments. Officials said the water in the jars and containers had a foul smell and contained bones, old flower garlands and animal skulls.
The other team inspected an area used for food production. They found fermented fish, dried squid and rice crackers without labels of approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Followers were seen taking those products to a pickup truck to sell at stalls in villages in Khon San and nearby areas.
The officials impounded the goods. They also examined a cow pen, a fish pond and an area where 15 Rusa deer were being kept.
Mr Charnchai said the thatched house and other structures would be dismantled over the next 7-10 days, but people staying there would be given time to move out. During the search, some followers were seen packing up and leaving the premises.
Local police were still gathering evidence before deciding whether to press additional charges against the cult leader, he said.
After Mr Tawee was released on bail by Phu Khieo court on Monday, Chaiyaphum governor Kraisorn Kongchalad said about 10 followers arrived to pick him up. He did not know where they took him.
The cult leader's elder brother, Boontan Nanra, 77, said that after Mr Tawee got bail, he had not returned to his home in Khon Kaen. Mr Boontan said he was not concerned as Mr Tawee's followers would take good care of him.