Luxury home searched in Buddhism Office embezzlement probe

[webfact]

Luxury home searched in Buddhism Office embezzlement probe

By The Nation

 

 

As part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged embezzlement of more than Bt300 million from state subsidies for 30 temples in recent years, Thai authorities on Wednesday morning searched a house in Bangkok's Taling Chan district linked to the wife of former National Buddhism Office (NBO) director Nopparat Benjawatananan.

Nopparat, who served as NBO chief from 2010-2014, was accused of siphoning off money from the subsidies and has fled Thailand.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) deputy chief Pol Major-General Romsit Weeriyasan led AMLO officials along with Royal Thai Police Counter Corruption Division officers used a warrant to search the luxury house of Pattaranan Benjawatananan, who was registered as marrying Nopparat in 2013.

 

An initial probe found that the house was registered in Pattaranan's daughter’s name after it was bought with Bt49 million in cash in 2013, when the daughter was only 20 years old.

 

Officers didn’t find any incriminating documents, although a security guard testified that some people had moved a large box reportedly containing documents out of the house two days earlier. Officers also found a safe box that was suspected to contain Bt80 million in cash.

 

This search was part of the investigation into alleged embezzlement between 2012 and 2016 of subsidies to repair 12 temples that had suffered Bt62 million in damage.

 

Accused alongside Nopparat in the first part of the investigation were NBO temple development and religious funding division head Wasawat Kittitheerasit, NBO deputy director-general Pranom Kongpikul, NBO official Natthawadee Tantayawisarnsut and a civilian named Siwaroj Piyaratseree.

 

The authorities conducted searches on September 21 at 14 locations in Nakhon Pathom in the second part of the probe, concerning the alleged Bt141 million embezzlement in 2012-2017 of three types of subsidies to temples. These are the fund to maintain and restore temples, the fund to support Buddhism propagation and the fund to support 23 Phrapariyatidhamma schools.

 

The September 21 searches had yielded 80 gold bars, each weighing about 15 grams, some land title deeds and other documents at the house of NBO former directors Phanom Sornsilp. These items were seized for inspection.

 

Officers filed the charges under the Criminal Code's Section 157 (dereliction of duty) and Section 147 (abuse of authority in the appropriation of funds) against Phanom. The second batch probe identified 19 suspects comprising 13 civil servants, four monks and two civilians.

 

Besides the five suspects in the first part of the probe, who were also accused in the second part, another nine NOB officials were named. They were Phanom, Sing Buri Buddhism Office director Narongdej Chainet, NBO academic Pattana Su-ammartmontri, Lampang Buddhism Office director Boonlert Sopa, NBO Phrapariyatidhamma education division head Pornpen Kittitarangkoon, NBO Buddhist religious sites division Chatchai Chuchua, NBO public works expert Phayong Sileung, NBO inspector-general Wiroj Oonsap, and Samut Songkhram Buddhism Office director Kaew Chidtakob. One civilian suspect, Paitoon Kannamo, was also named while four monk suspects’ names were withheld.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30329043

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-11

[IamNoone88]

Buddhism Office Embezzlement Probe - There really is no shame.

[worgeordie]

The state should maybe stop giving subsidies to Temples,as most

of them seem to be doing O.K.,and they are always running campaigns

to raise funds,for more buildings,repairs.or have some gimmick to draw

people and donations,sure there maybe smaller out of the way Temples

that need help,just be more selective to where the money goes.

 

regards worgeordie

[observer90210]

Looks that it is not only rice that attracts doubtful and questionnable actions !!!!

[retarius]

Temples need to be audited every year and have to account for both donations and expenses. It is time to clamp down on this fraud and embezzelement

[wavemanwww]

Nothing new here

[rosst]

3 hours ago, wavemanwww said:

Nothing new here

The number of people involved is disgusting, devout Buddhists all of them. 

[USPatriot]

They didn't find anything while searching a 49mb house what about the house?????????????

 

Where did the money come from   oh yeah a 20 year old haaaa

[wakeupplease]

12 hours ago, retarius said:

Temples need to be audited every year and have to account for both donations and expenses. It is time to clamp down on this fraud and embezzelement

That will be the day

[rodney earl]

I wonder if they could use some of that money to help out the girls in Chiang Mai.??