Police vow to take legal action against monks over subsidy corruption scandal

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Police vow to take legal action against monks over subsidy corruption scandal

 

 

POLICE HAVE vowed to take legal action against all the four monks implicated in the temple-subsidy corruption scandal, regardless of the number of their supporters.

 

“We are not worried about their followers because we have proceeded in line with evidence,” Pol Maj-General Kamol Reanracha, commander of the National Police Office’s Counter Corruption Division (CCD), said yesterday.  While he did not identify the monks by name, he said all the priests were still in Thailand.  

 

The CCD has already disclosed that there are 19 suspects in the alleged embezzlement of state subsidies that were allocated to 23 temples via the National Buddhism Office (NBO).  Of these suspects, NBO’s former director Phanom Sornsilp, Sing Buri Buddhism Office’s Narongdej Chainet, NBO academic Pattana Subamma-rtmontri, Buddhist Monastery Division’s chief Chatchai Chuchau, and NBO public-works engineer Payong Siluang have already been charged in connection with the scandal.  They have denied any wrongdoing. 

 

Nopparat Benjawatananan, another former director involved in the scandal, has not yet acknowledged the charges against him as he left Thailand before officials got to his home.  On Thursday, the CCD conducted simultaneous raids at various locations linked to the suspects. Their assets are now confiscated pending investigation by the Anti-Money Laundering Office.  

 

Kamol added that his division would conclude the investigation into the alleged embezzlement at 23 temples very soon.  “We plan to submit the investigation report to the National Anti-Corruption Commission next Tuesday,” he said.  A source disclosed that one of the accused monks was a district-level monastic chief in Phetchabun province.  

 

“This monk has returned Bt5 million to some accused officials after getting Bt19 million in subsidy,” the source said, adding, relevant authorities have told the monk to produce evidence that he had not engaged in any wrongdoing. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30327443

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-09-23

[colinneil]

Hilarious, crooks to take legal action against other crooks.

[Samui Bodoh]

14 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Police vow to take legal action against monks over subsidy corruption scandal

 

Well, I for one am completely, 100% relieved. Now that we have the police vow, surely ALL the corruption will be dealt with according to the law.

 

Phew! I feel better already.

 

 

[inThailand]

Buddhists now tarnished.

 

I smell a new hub.

The hub of tarnishing reputations. 

[Thaiwrath]

59 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

“We are not worried about their followers because we have proceeded in line with evidence,”

It's a pity they didn't take is stance, when they first went after Dhammachayo ! 

[tracker1]

I hope they don't investigate into the matter to deep for I fear the next headline will be Police investigating corrupt officials and monks moved to inactive posts.

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Hilarious, crooks to take legal action against other crooks.

seems they only get interested when they ass an opportunity to seize money for themselves

[mikebell]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

he said all the priests were still in Thailand.  

For now.

[Thian]

Since i know the police helped Yingluck to escape i also suspect them to have helped the UFO-monk to escape. Don't you guys?

[Retiredandhappyhere]

In most societies where there is evidence of corruption or embezzlement, action by the police is automatic and does not require them to VOW that they will take action.  Announcing that they will take action suggests that in certain other cases they might not.  A suggestion that is very believable.

[digger70]

Why would they have to VOW? It's there Job to Catch and Prosecute Criminals ,No matter What status on the social ladder they are.    ,,,Meaning,,,If he has to Vow there must be Something Wrong.