Ex-monk Wirapol (Luang Pu Nenkham) withdrew Bt300m

[webfact]

Ex-monk 'withdrew Bt300m'
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
The Nation



Wirapol could face money-laundering charges, DSI says

BANGKOK: -- Wirapol Sukpol, better known as Luang Pu Nenkham, has reportedly almost emptied his 41 bank accounts by withdrawing up to Bt300 million. He has allegedly only left a total of about Bt3 million in his accounts.

Meanwhile, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has said a warrant for the arrest of the former monk will be issued tomorrow and officials will look into all donations to see if money laundering has been going on.

Narong Rattananugul, adviser to the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), said investigators from his office as well as those from the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) had asked banks at which Wirapol opened his 41 accounts, to report on all transactions in retrospect.

They will also check the former monk's relations with major donors to see if the money was handed over for merit-making purposes. It was initially reported that the 41 accounts now only have about Bt3 million - down from about Bt300 million. So, officials would investigate the transfers and try to retrieve the missing funds, he said.

Later yesterday, AMLO deputy chief Saowanee Sawaengpol said the agency could not yet confirm if the money in Wirapol's accounts had indeed been withdrawn. AMLO is due to hold a meeting on the issue on Friday.

But Saowanee confirmed that if the money has been hidden from the authorities, then the ex-monk could face money-laundering charges and the cash would be confiscated, if was deemed to have come from fraudulent activities. She said AMLO planned to contact the United States' Financial Intelligence Unit to help seize the ex-monk's assets there.

DSI's Security Crime Bureau chief Pong-in Intarakhao said inquiries into the ex-monk's transactions showed that Khantitham Kaona Co Ltd, which sold amulets, and some of his foundations were reportedly used as "transit points" before money went into his personal accounts.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said he ordered investigators to conduct an in-depth study of all cash and gold donated to the former monk and to compare it with donation receipts used to get a tax waiver from the Revenue Department.

Besides getting an arrest warrant for rape and other charges, the DSI wants to freeze Wirapol's bank accounts and seize 70 cars. It will also call on immigration authorities in the US and Europe and have his visas revoked.


-- The Nation 2013-07-16

[A Member]

It stretches incredulity that he was collecting this wealth and no one, especially senior monks, in his district up through the system didn't know anything about it. Of course he was handing out cars etc. and no doubt providing out favours and services that many will not want brought out.

He may be brought back, he may even face trial but I'm sure there will be efforts to wrap it up at that.

[doremifasol]

"The monk emptied his 41 bank accounts by withdrawing up to Bt300 million".

"The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has said a warrant for the arrest of the former monk will be issued tomorrow".

Sure.....tomorrow is when is too late to freeze his assets.

[Songhua]

Allow him to withdraw 300 million and then freeze his accounts. Well done.

[Bluespunk]

How the hell did he manage to do that and nobody noticed until after the event? The DSI now is planning to freeze his accounts? Shouldn't that have been done last month?

Edited July 16, 2013 by Bluespunk

[NongKhaiKid]

Allow him to withdraw 300 million and then freeze his accounts. Well done.

I suppose he needs pocket money for his US stay and more importantly the money may not all actually be his.

He will lose potential friends very quickly if he loses their money. We know the DSI is suspect and incompetent but there could be method in this particular madness.

[GentlemanJim]

Besides getting an arrest warrant for rape and other charges, the DSI wants to freeze Wirapol's bank accounts and seize 70 cars

Quack quack ...ooop's!

[noitom]

The Thai money grab is on.

[pedro01]

It stretches incredulity that he was collecting this wealth and no one, especially senior monks, in his district up through the system didn't know anything about it. Of course he was handing out cars etc. and no doubt providing out favours and services that many will not want brought out.

He may be brought back, he may even face trial but I'm sure there will be efforts to wrap it up at that.

Looks to me like he did a Thaksin.

Took his money out and took it with him because he knew this was all going to blow up.

With someone tipping him off about this ahead of time, I doubt he'll be coming back.

[noitom]

When one of the bankers gets busted Thais could start to be taken seriously on this anti money laundering crime. Until then it's just the Thai good old boy networking shuffling about, covering up, and grabbing money.

[OzMick]

We can only hope that as the words of his actions spread, some of his followers will achieve a measure of "enlightenment" (other than monetary)

[Gonzo the Face]

Allow him to withdraw 300 million and then freeze his accounts. Well done.

I suppose he needs pocket money for his US stay and more importantly the money may not all actually be his.

He will lose potential friends very quickly if he loses their money. We know the DSI is suspect and incompetent but there could be method in this particular madness.

.....of course he needs pocket money...... you been to McDonald's lately ?????

up til now , what better type of non suspect person could you have to watch over your money than a senior monk? I would think that it is a very big face loss for the DSI to admit that they will consider freezing his accounts now, after the fact. I think that a lot of higher ups have got their fingers in this cookie jar, and the 300m has probably worked its way back to the rightful owners by now....

Phewwww big sighs of releif being sounded in some corners...... now only if his mouth is kept shut.... but the egg is starting to show cracks now and it may be very hard to keep everything intact, as it starts to come apart.

[Soutpeel]

It stretches incredulity that he was collecting this wealth and no one, especially senior monks, in his district up through the system didn't know anything about it. Of course he was handing out cars etc. and no doubt providing out favours and services that many will not want brought out.

He may be brought back, he may even face trial but I'm sure there will be efforts to wrap it up at that.

Looks to me like he did a Thaksin.

Took his money out and took it with him because he knew this was all going to blow up.

With someone tipping him off about this ahead of time, I doubt he'll be coming back.

He most likely needed the cash to buy a house next door to Thaksin in Dubai

Seeing as the DSI keep publishing their intentions in the media, one suspects the gentleman concerned has exited the US and hiding out somewhere else...with the cash he has to hand, this will buy him a few "favours" along the way

Edited July 16, 2013 by Soutpeel

[Misterwhisper]

This saga has been going on for almost a month - and the DSI wants to freeze his bank accounts only now? A tad late for that, methinks.

They better rush now and impound those 70 cars before they're driven off to Cambodia or Malaysia.

It's always a wonderful idea to have your intended moves splashed across all newspapers so suspected criminals have enough time to plan and implement suitable counter measures.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Misterwhisper

[ezzra]

Allow him to withdraw 300 million and then freeze his accounts. Well done.

And That whatcha ma call it " shutting the barn's doors after the horses has bolted"

typical Thai Grang Jai attitude,

and when he get caught, it will be raveled that "only some of the 300 millions have been

successfully recovered by the authorities, the rest of the loot nowhere to be found"

wink wink, nudge nudge....

[hellodolly]

Allow him to withdraw 300 million and then freeze his accounts. Well done.

I suppose he needs pocket money for his US stay and more importantly the money may not all actually be his.

He will lose potential friends very quickly if he loses their money. We know the DSI is suspect and incompetent but there could be method in this particular madness.

I was under the understanding that he also had 10 bank accounts in the States. Makes sense to me if he has a house in California.

I think the states will be very interested in looking into his accounts there for money laundering.

He best get his sorry ass to Dubai. Criminals are welcomed there. No questions asked. If he needs a passport renewal just go and apply there at the Thai embassy.

[hellodolly]

Allow him to withdraw 300 million and then freeze his accounts. Well done.

I suppose he needs pocket money for his US stay and more importantly the money may not all actually be his.

He will lose potential friends very quickly if he loses their money. We know the DSI is suspect and incompetent but there could be method in this particular madness.

.....of course he needs pocket money...... you been to McDonald's lately ?????

up til now , what better type of non suspect person could you have to watch over your money than a senior monk? I would think that it is a very big face loss for the DSI to admit that they will consider freezing his accounts now, after the fact. I think that a lot of higher ups have got their fingers in this cookie jar, and the 300m has probably worked its way back to the rightful owners by now....

Phewwww big sighs of releif being sounded in some corners...... now only if his mouth is kept shut.... but the egg is starting to show cracks now and it may be very hard to keep everything intact, as it starts to come apart.

With an ego like his some one might shut it for him.

Just a chance but I suspect there are some people he is involved with who would not like to see the connection known.

[blabla1]

This guy is to slippery for the Thai authorities, if they want to save face, they should let this episode die down and disappear!!...

[Thai at Heart]

Where officially are donations to temples supposed to be banked? Surely not the private accounts of the monks?

Do temples have to set up accounts?

[Tatsujin]

Yet again, Thailand shows how back to front it is . . . warn someone you're going to arrest them, then act surprised when they take all the money out of their bank accounts . . . what a farce (again)

[NongKhaiKid]

When one of the bankers gets busted Thais could start to be taken seriously on this anti money laundering crime. Until then it's just the Thai good old boy networking shuffling about, covering up, and grabbing money.

You have to laugh. IN Channel reported on all the government agencies that have swung into action to find and seize all his assets !

Have they never heard of Old Mother Hubbard ?

[AyG]

Where officially are donations to temples supposed to be banked? Surely not the private accounts of the monks?

Do temples have to set up accounts?

It wasn't a temple, it was a monastery. Monasteries are not subject to the same strict rules and inspections as temples.

[canopus1969]

With that level of income possible I think I will pop out and get my head shaved

[Farangdam]

case close unsolved....next....

[nachiket]

"The monk emptied his 41 bank accounts by withdrawing up to Bt300 million".

"The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has said a warrant for the arrest of the former monk will be issued tomorrow".

Sure.....tomorrow is when is too late to freeze his assets.

As per saying, tomorrow never comes...

[AnotherOneAmerican]

This guy is to slippery for the Thai authorities, if they want to save face, they should let this episode die down and disappear!!...

Every Thai with money is too slippery for the Thai authorities.

Only foreigners on overstay are easily caught.

[navara]

He might brought it back to the owner.

[trainman34014]

So typical of the way the 'Law Enforcement' agencies work in Thailand. Make a big noise so that all the conspirators involved can think about Plan B, talk about the 'possibility' of arrest warrants being issued, keep dragging feet for another week or two, let all the money and main culprits vanish....and then finally do something constructive when it's known full well that it's too late to snare in the net anyone who may be of a 'Political' or 'Connected' stance.

Happens every week, every month , every year, every decade, and will continue to happen until end of World. This is Thailand.

Edited July 16, 2013 by trainman34014

[Docno]

Interesting that his donation collection page is still up: http://en.luangpunenkham.com/about/contribution-or-charity/

Note that all of the accounts were savings accounts in his own (secular i.e., passport-matching) name.

Whatever happened to HarryfromPattaya who was saying that this was simply bad press and gossip and that this monk was actually one of the good guys? .

[alfalfa19]

Pretty crafty to get 99 percent of his loot.