DSI calls for dissolution of Dhammakaya-related foundation

By The Nation

 

 

THE DEPARTMENT of Special Investigation (DSI) is calling on public prosecutors to get the court to dissolve the Khun Yay Maha Ratana Upasika Chandra Khonnokyoong Foundation – which was implicated in the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC) embezzlement case – and prosecute members of the foundation’s committee for money laundering.
 

DSI also wants the prosecutors to ask the court to confiscate the foundation’s Bt13-billion assets, DSI chief Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang said yesterday. 

 

The foundation – established on July 30, 2004 – is under the patronage of Dhammakaya Temple’s ex-abbot Phra Dhammachayo, who faces an arrest warrant over money-laundering charges. 

 

The elusive monk and his accomplices have been accused of accepting money from KCUC’s ex-boss Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, who is in jail for stealing billions of baht from the cooperative. The DSI had investigated Supachai and his accomplices over embezzlement charges, and then looked into Phra Dhammachayo and other people’s alleged role in money laundering and possession of stolen articles. 

 

Since initial investigation uncovered transactions linked to the foundation – which was accused of constructing facilities for the temple using money that was allegedly swindled out of the KCUC – the DSI launched another probe, results of which were provided to reporters by Paisit yesterday. 

 

Paisit said the investigators found the foundation and its board, led by billionaire telecom tycoon Boonchai Bencharongkul’s younger sister Wanna Chirakiti, guilty of conspiring to launder money and also violating the foundation’s objectives. Hence, he said, the DSI is recommending that prosecutors disband the foundation and seize its assets, including the assets already confiscated by the Anti-Money Laundering Office earlier.

 

The 2,000-rai Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani’s Khlong Luang district has many newly built structures in its vast compound as well as in several affiliated centres nationwide. 

 

The most expensive structure was the Khun Yay Maha Ratana Upasika Chandra Khonnokyoong Building, which cost Bt5 billion, followed by the temple’s car park costing Bt2.6 billion and the Bt1.5 billion World Peace Valley Meditation Centre at Khao Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district. The meditation centre is also under investigation for alleged forest encroachment and misuse of land meant for agriculture. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30359547

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-30

3 hours ago, webfact said:

and prosecute members of the foundation’s committee for money laundering.

good, add 'illegal' to 'sham' describing this place

By all means lance this boil ASAP. These "little sparrows" and their Triumph of the Will agenda are a blot on Buddhism...

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The foundation – established on July 30, 2004 – is under the patronage of Dhammakaya Temple’s ex-abbot Phra Dhammachayo, who faces an arrest warrant over money-laundering charges. 

 

The big problem is this Abbot and this sect are BIG with upcountry Thais, and considered enemies by the powers that be and there supporters. So did they embezzle or is this just political eyewash.

 

I am generally negative towards organized religion, so I am conditioned to believe they are all a scam

 

However given the lack of transparency by the powers that bring these charges ... They could easily have fabricated all charges. And this is just another step to strip religion from people who win election after election but are not allowed to govern. Where will it end? 

 

TIT

 

No wonder the Junta disapproves:

 

"The movement opposes traditional magical rituals, superstition, fortune telling, and other folk religious practices."

Dhammakaya Movement - Wikipedia

 

 

the abbott did a runner, says it all, he knew he was guilty as sin and got out while he could. The fact they took money from the credit union knowingly shows their guilt, they are in it for the profits/financial rewards. The govt needs to start coming down on these religious groups and making them toe the line, they dont stay within the buddhist requirements as they put money before everything else, you only have to look at the monks with the latest i-phones and other top  brand gear to see this plus in this case the amount of money they have to do everything, An honest monk these days is hard to find, they are out there but there are too many that like the rich lifestyle that can have through graft and corruption

Another corrupt group being hounded, not for their I'll doing  but for their political standing. 

I find it hard to believe how totally brainwashed most Thai are, even supposedly educated rich and powerful ones, by the charlatans of certain bhuddist sects.

 

But then, I find it hard to believe how totally brainwashed most humans are, by the charlatans of all organised religion.

 

 

And the absconded monk is now a monk(ey) just like Boss, Panther killer and all the others that have money - not accusing anyone- all allegedly innocent ???? 

7 hours ago, seajae said:

the abbott did a runner, says it all, he knew he was guilty as sin and got out while he could. The fact they took money from the credit union knowingly shows their guilt, they are in it for the profits/financial rewards. The govt needs to start coming down on these religious groups and making them toe the line, they dont stay within the buddhist requirements as they put money before everything else, you only have to look at the monks with the latest i-phones and other top  brand gear to see this plus in this case the amount of money they have to do everything, An honest monk these days is hard to find, they are out there but there are too many that like the rich lifestyle that can have through graft and corruption

What a tangled web we weave.......

 

Especially when deep-seeded power and immoral profiteering is the main stake.