DSI to question abbot, top monks this week

[Lite Beer]

DSI to question abbot, top monks this week
PIYANUT TAMNUKASETCHAI
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- Investigation into credit union embazzlement case gathers pace

THIS will be a busy week for the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) as the agency is set to interrogate key witnesses, including Dhammakaya Temple abbot Phra Dhammachayo, over the more than Bt16 billion embezzled from the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative.

The questioning will be part of an investigation into the case in which the cooperative's then-president Supachai Srisupa-aksorn was accused of embezzling the money from the institution. He has been charged with public fraud and embezzlement.

The credit union has filed civil lawsuits against him demanding he return all the money. It has also filed a number of criminal lawsuits against the Pathum Thani-based temple and a number of monks who received massive donations from Supachai while he was serving as its president.

The DSI has invited at least 47 individuals and legal entities to come forward for questioning, a DSI source said yesterday.

In this coming week, DSI investigators are scheduled to question witnesses from the Dhammakaya Temple. Dhammachayo is expected to meet investigators on Tuesday.

Senior monk Phra Khru Palat Vijahn Thirangku is scheduled to be questioned tomorrow, followed by another monk, Phra Montri Sudapaso, on Wednesday.

A former Dhammakaya monk, Sataporn Wattanasirinukul, who now runs a business, is expected to meet the investigators on Friday.

They are among three groups of people and organisation representatives to be questioned as part of the DSI investigation. The second group consists of 32 legal entitles to which the embezzled money was transferred. And the third group includes businesses paid for their services.

Their representatives are to be questioned at the DSI later this month, according to the source.

The DSI has charged those who accepted cheques from Supachai with obtaining stolen goods, the source said.

The department will also look into Supachai's tax records, as it is suspected he claimed tax deductions for amounts of over Bt1 billion donated to temples, another DSI source said.

The source said that while Supachai was serving as head of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative, he lured about Bt8 billion in deposits from 82 other cooperatives all over the country, including many of Thailand's largest. He offered a dividend of 10 per cent a year, which is higher than the allowed maximum rate of 7 per cent.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/DSI-to-question-abbot-top-monks-this-week-30255546.html

-- The Nation 2015-03-08

[NeilSA1]

This investigation will not be easy.

Corruption must be be routed out, hopefully with no major consequences, which IMO will be very difficult. Good luck and power to the DSI. Persevere, and make the right decisions.

[issanaus]

From the OP

The source said that while Supachai was serving as head of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative, he lured about Bt8 billion in deposits from 82 other cooperatives all over the country, including many of Thailand's largest. He offered a dividend of 10 per cent a year, which is higher than the allowed maximum rate of 7 per cent.

The ripples from the Klongchan CUC are starting to spread. The culture of greed and disregard for the law is slowly being exposed. Please don't tell me that this is small fish or that it is politically motivated. While initial targets MAY have been political motivated there is no question that this is spreading throughout the financial sector and the government organisations that were supposed to be supervising them,

[Sarathi]

Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative must be at least a little happy that most of the attention has focussed on Wat Dhammakaya, and not the actual people who embezzled funds.

[rametindallas]

Dhammakaya Temple abbot Phra Dhammachayo.

Mighty fancy spectacles for a monk who's sworn a vow of poverty.

Is he wearing lipstick?

[Wilsonandson]

The DSI has charged those who accepted cheques from Supachai with obtaining stolen goods, the source said.

Donation. How was the abbot to know that this was embezzled money? This is politically motivated not corruption.

[Robby nz]

The DSI has charged those who accepted cheques from Supachai with obtaining stolen goods, the source said.

Donation. How was the abbot to know that this was embezzled money? This is politically motivated not corruption.

No it is you who are politically motivated to even be asking.

If you had followed this you would know the abbot did know the money was stolen.

He certainly knows now so why has he and all the temple affiliates who received the billions not returned the money to the rightful owner, would that not be the honest thing to do ?

Please explain what is wrong with asking these people about the millions they got so generously given to them, how much did you get, where is it, why are you not prepared to return it to the savers it belongs to ?

The only thing that is political about this is the longstanding connection between that temple and your hero Thaksin, as told to the world by another of his faithful (paid) followers Dr Weng the ex communist.

[trogers]

The only thing that is political about this is the longstanding connection between that temple and your hero Thaksin, as told to the world by another of his faithful (paid) followers Dr Weng the ex communist.

Ahhh...actions of integrity for a group which we can only described as "birds of a feather flock together".

[CPH]

Accounting laws in Thailand should be much stricter both for Credit Unions, Temples, large companies etc etc.

[FangFerang]

Contrary to lazy brained popular belief, no one has to love Thaksin to question the one-sided approach to tackling corruption going on. It's a pogram. According to Thai law, all temple monies are state funds....uh, why isn't anyone monitoring this nationwide? One guess, first two don't count--they don't want to monitor it. Why the focus on this one temple, because I am certain it is not the only dirty temple. I am also certain that friends of the junta will never be examined. If they are, it will be a token examination.

No anti-junta polls allowed, journalists threatened with being punched in the face, the PM jumping on someone's bike at Gov House and driving around without permission (theft)....corrupt lotteries run by the military, and the rest of the list is a long one...

Why should anyone believe anything these lying junta pork rinds tell us?

They should not.

[cookee68]

Good luck

[lvr181]

Big investigation (for happiness of Thai peoples), no outcome and save face for everyone?

Tough on those depositors who were "robbed"!

[Robby nz]

Contrary to lazy brained popular belief, no one has to love Thaksin to question the one-sided approach to tackling corruption going on. It's a pogram. According to Thai law, all temple monies are state funds....uh, why isn't anyone monitoring this nationwide? One guess, first two don't count--they don't want to monitor it. Why the focus on this one temple, because I am certain it is not the only dirty temple. I am also certain that friends of the junta will never be examined. If they are, it will be a token examination.

No anti-junta polls allowed, journalists threatened with being punched in the face, the PM jumping on someone's bike at Gov House and driving around without permission (theft)....corrupt lotteries run by the military, and the rest of the list is a long one...

Why should anyone believe anything these lying junta pork rinds tell us?

They should not.

You are slipping you forgot but Suthep.

A very poor attempt at defending corruption.