webfact Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 Temples insist NBO money was for India trip, not graft By Sayan Chucham The Nation Photo courtesy of www.sbl.co.th Three temples in Phichit province, that are among the 30 northern and central temples accused of involvement in embezzling from the National Buddhism Office (NBO) budget meant for temple development, are insisting on their innocence. The police Counter-Corruption Division was investigating the three temples over suspicion of temple-fund graft. But the temples insist that they had not paid a commission fee to a corrupt official. Rather, the Bt2 million wired to each temple’s bank account was for an NBO-sponsored field trip to India, which the temples then wired to the trip organisers accordingly, according to Wat Nong Tao in Bang Mun Nak, along with Wat Ton Chum Seang and Wat Thongthaiyaram, both in Taphan Hin district. Phra Kruwiwitthawatchai, the Wat Thongthaiyaram abbot, said his temple joined the field trip to India on the invitation of other senior monks and gave the temple’s bank account number information to the project’s organisers. After that Bt2 million budget was sent to the temple’s bank account on December 14, 2015 and the temple on the following day wired the entire amount to the project organisers to cover the trip expenses, the abbot said. The temple’s monks and layman committee members also donated some money to the project’s fund-raising campaign to develop temples in India, he added. Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30347389 -- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Get Real Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 55 minutes ago, webfact said: accused of involvement in embezzling from the National Buddhism Office (NBO) budget meant for temple development, are insisting on their innocence. I guess that trip to India, was very developing for the temple. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YetAnother Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 2 hours ago, webfact said: After that Bt2 million budget was sent to the temple’s bank account on December 14, 2015 and the temple on the following day wired the entire amount to the project organisers to cover the trip expenses, the abbot said. obviously doesn't think a boondoggle at other's expense is corruption; clearly he thinks it is quite OK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamyai3 Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, webfact said: National Buddhism Office (NBO) It's still showing on google as the NOB. Edited June 10, 2018 by lamyai3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mok199 Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 I truly hope there is no '' there thier'', the very essence of Thailand and its people, rest on these monks and the temples..its like telling a 4 year old '' Santa is not real''.!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juan B Tong Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 I would like to nominate this as the best creative excuse in the temple category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darcula Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 There's some good deals in Bodhgaya. 3 sets of saffron robes, a hair cut, and a shave - all for $ 199. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvr181 Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 6 hours ago, webfact said: Temples insist NBO money was for India trip, not graft Really? Who would believe that? Begs the question "Where did the graft money come from."? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sawadeeken Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 4 hours ago, YetAnother said: After that Bt2 million budget was sent to the temple’s bank account on December 14, 2015 and the temple on the following day wired the entire amount to the project organisers to cover the trip expenses, the abbot said. I can't see any mention of the trip having occured, it these past years...... which would prove the expense was real........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SABloke Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 (edited) Quick question: Where does the N.O.B get its budget from? Thailand is (on paper) a secular country so I hope this nob doesn't get funded by taxpayers. ? EDIT to add: According to Wikipedia, Thailand is "ambiguous" so perhaps that's how they get away with funding only 1 religion. (Not that I think any religions should get any state funding, anywhere, ever) Edited June 11, 2018 by SABloke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvr181 Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 14 minutes ago, SABloke said: Thailand is "ambiguous" Not sure one moment, lost the next moment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srikcir Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 5 hours ago, SABloke said: Where does the N.O.B get its budget from? The Thai government via Thai taxpayers as NOB is a government agency. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/opinion/2018/06/02/the-corruption-and-excesses-of-thai-buddhism/ As I recall, Thailand distributes funds to all recognized religions in Thailand. But as Buddhist account for about 95% of the Thai population, the NOB gets the large bulk of federal funds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodney earl Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 There goes those pigs flying overhead again.!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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