Embezzlement Charges Against Abbot Of Wat Dhammakaya Withdrawn

[Jai Dee]

Cases against the abbot of Wat Dhammakaya are withdrawn from the Criminal Court

The Criminal Court has approved the prosecution’s withdrawal of suits against the abbot of Wat Dhammakaya (ธรรมกาย) and his follower for embezzlement and negligence of duty.

Pra Dhammachayo (พระธัมมชโย) and Thaworn Promthaworn (ถาวร พรหมถาวร) were charged with unorthodox teaching and embezzling around 35 million baht of temple donations to buy land in Pichit and Phetchabun and put it under the name of Mr. Thaworn.

The prosecution, however, said the defendants were now teaching dhamma right according to the Pali Canon and returned the land and money worth 959.3 million baht to the temple.

Two other embezzlement cases and another negligence case will soon be withdrawn by the prosecution.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 August 2006

[thaimeup]

The fact that he's a supporter of Taksin has nothing to do with it!

[chownah]

Does this mean that if a bank robber gives the money back the gov't will drop charges?

[ilyushin]

What?

[bangkapiboy]

I say fry him!

[hammered]

It is sad that other temples that do good work do not get the largesse that is so forthcoming for this extremely controversial temple.

[Scott]

What a horrible example this sets. It's OK to steal?

[Tony Clifton]

Are these the same people from the DMC Tv channel?

[fruittbatt]

Can anyone enlighten me (no pun intended) about whether this is the same crowd that runs meditation retreats for farangs and has an opulent complex in southern Bangkok?

[Old Man River]

Does this mean that if a bank robber gives the money back the gov't will drop charges?

A bank robber in the normal sense (armed and dangerous), no, but someone who embezzles or defrauds a bank may be let go if all or most of the money is returned. I know this sounds dumb, but the bank is often so happy to get the money back that deals are made. Also true for civil cases for the same reason.

[fxm88]

For anyone unfamiliar with the controversy here are some links to old news articles:

http://www.pathfinder.com/asiaweek/magazin...7/thailand.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/428838.stm

http://www.seapabkk.org/fellowships/2002/yasmin.html

http://www.time.com/time/asia/asia/magazin...628/monks1.html

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/pag...39&usrsess=

http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/.../Dhammakaya.htm

http://www.rickross.com/reference/general/general644.html

One more,a blog entry:

http://www.slate.com/?id=2068541&&entry=2068575

Does anyone know if the free bus to the temple he mentions is still running? Where does one catch it?

Edited August 23, 2006 by fxm88

[fruittbatt]

thanks for the comprehensive history...for anyone in Chiang Mai, this outfit is associated with the forest meditation retreats on offer at Middle Way meditation village. Made enquiries some time ago but opted out on discovering that no Dhamma was taught in conjunction with meditation. Focus very much on merit-making and the material wealth that accrues to those who practise meditation. Had no appeal to us at all..

Edited August 23, 2006 by fruittbatt

[camerata]

It's hard not to be cynical when only a month after the temple is used for a rally of government officials a 7-year case is dropped by prosecutors because (1) the alleged embezzler gave the money back (2) he promised to teach the right Dhamma instead of the wrong Dhamma in future and (3) the case might cause "disunity."