Monks fail to appear at DSI
Piyanut Tumnukasetchai
Jeerapong Prasertponkrung
The Nation

Phra Dhammachayo defers opportunIty to shed light on Klongchan CredIt UnIon case

BANGKOK: -- THE ABBOT OF Dhammakaya Temple, Phra Dhammachayo, and another monk at the centre of the Klongchan Credit Union embezzlement case have postponed their appointment at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to answer questions about their alleged receipt of huge donations from the controversy-plagued cooperative.

Available evidence suggests that Phra Dhammchayo received more than Bt300 million and Phra Khru Paladwijahn over Bt100 million from the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative's bank accounts.

The money allegedly came via Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, president of the cooperative at the time of the donations. Supachai is now accused of embezzling more than Bt10 billion.

Pol Lt-Colonel Pakorn Suchee-wakul, who heads a DSI team probing the transactions of the Dhammakaya Temple, said yesterday Phra Khru Paladwijahn had asked to reschedule his meeting with the DSI to March 19.

The monk was scheduled to report yesterday.

Pakorn said Phra Dhammachayo had requested a postponement too but has not said yet when he would be available to testify to the DSI.

"At this point, they are key witnesses. We will allow just one postponement," Pakorn said. "We won't agree to postpone it more than once because it can affect our schedule."

The DSI yesterday also inspected a firm, GLOW Development, and a house belonging to Watchanont Nawa-issararak, who received more than Bt2.56 billion from the cooperative through Supachai.

The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has already confiscated more than Bt300 million of Watchanont's assets on suspicion they were illegally acquired. The DSI has said it suspected he might still have more assets hidden elsewhere.

Recordings from a closed-circuit television system show that computers and document files were removed from the office last Friday.

In the wake of the questionable donations for the Dhammakaya Temple and its monks, PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana said yesterday that he had instructed the National Office of Buddhism to check temples nationwide and stop any activities that might affect public faith.

The National Reform Council's committee on the protection of Buddhism, however, is now defunct as its chairman, Paiboon Nititawan, announced the conclusion of its mission last Friday. The committee had seriously shaken Thailand's ecclesiastical field when questions were raised about Phra Dhammachayo and related figures.

In response to his action, the Academics for Buddhism Association and allies have cancelled their plans to hold a big gathering of monks on March 12.

The association's president, Asst Prof Dr Sathien Wipornmanha, however, has continued to attack Or Noi Temple's abbot Phra Buddha Isara.

He accused the monk of offending the acting Supreme Patriarch.

Phra Buddha Isara tried to pressure the Sangha Supreme Council, where the acting Supreme Patriarch sits, to strip Phra Dhammachayo of his monk status. Gunshots were fired in front of the Or Noi Temple early Sunday in what its abbot believes was a form of intimidation.

"It's probably related to my visit to the residence of the acting Supreme Patriarch," Phra Buddha Isara said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Monks-fail-to-appear-at-DSI-30255664.html

-- The Nation 2015-03-10

Dem monkz jus ignore de babylon. Jus like me yardie bruvvas aye!!!!

This saga is starting to read a lot like South Carolina's PTL club with Jim and Tammy Faye Baker.

Looks like the rot is at the 'top' of the tree.

Looks like the rot is at the 'top' of the tree.

Yes, the fish normally goes rotten from the head down.

Gunshots were fired in front of the Or Noi Temple early Sunday in what its abbot believes was a form of intimidation.

Attacked once again.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/gunmen-sprayed-luang-poo-buddha-isaras-residence-m-16s

Gunmen wielding M 16 assault rifles opened fire at the residence of Luang Poo Buddha Isara inside Wat Ornoi temple in Nakhon Pathom late Monday night but caused no injury to life.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/eod-police-destroy-home-made-bomb-luang-poos-temple

EOD police destroy a home-made bomb at Luang Poo’s temple

When he comes out on the side of what is right cowards attack his temple.

And the Hitler loving monk doesn't want to show up to answer as to where the millions (billions) went that he and his lot refuses to give back to the savers it was stolen from.

What a disappointment that Paiboon caved in and disbanded the committee that could have done so much to rid Buddhism of the cancer of corruption.

You nasty nasty monks, not coming to an attitude adjustment, Karma shall curse you 4ever.....

This country really is going down the shitterr at a fast rate of knots

Is there one person left in Thailand that doesn't lie cheat and steal ? if the highest ethical group in the country are now implicated, what hope is there ?

a very sad state of affairs

Arrest warrants should be issued for all those involved and acted on with no prior warning to those named...but that's not going to happen, is it!

The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has already confiscated more than Bt300 million of Watchanont's assets on suspicion they were illegally acquired. The DSI has said it suspected he might still have more assets hidden elsewhere.

OK, so now do the same to the accounts of the Abbot and his monks. If they don't have money to go shopping that might find the time to turn up.

Dem monkz jus ignore de babylon. Jus like me yardie bruvvas aye!!!!

What a system ! I wonder if anyone summonsed by the DSI has actually ever complied with the first date.

The DSI, BIB and the courts seem to happily accept the weakest of excuses asking for a postponement although in this case the monk didn't bother with an excuse and doesn't know when he will be free ! No worries, that's okay no doubt.

A whole lot of people around the world is watching this little tableau, so Mr. Prime Minister, don't fall by the way side. Stand strong.

the people are above the law, apparently

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Arrest warrants should be issued for all those involved and acted on with no prior warning to those named...but that's not going to happen, is it!

Thai rak Thai

It's time to issue Warrant !!!!

Even the clergy in Thailand does not respect the rule of law. Hahahahahh what a role model lol

A billion THB is a big number and convert the THB to any currency you like but it still comes out to be a lot of dosh.

Thats a big wow that these Monks won't even show up to chat about it.

I agree with some others in this forum thats it is time to start freezing some bank accounts that have the alleged stolen money in.

I'll bet him and his cohorts are giving the Dubai express some thought.

A billion THB is a big number and convert the THB to any currency you like but it still comes out to be a lot of dosh.

Thats a big wow that these Monks won't even show up to chat about it.

I agree with some others in this forum thats it is time to start freezing some bank accounts that have the alleged stolen money in.

I do hope they are keeping the Temples involved under surveillance and searching any vehicles leaving with large loads on board

As for accounts - a classic way to bury large sums is to invest it in bogus companies/corporations which usually have offshore interests, very hard to trace and seize

A billion THB is a big number and convert the THB to any currency you like but it still comes out to be a lot of dosh.

Thats a big wow that these Monks won't even show up to chat about it.

I agree with some others in this forum thats it is time to start freezing some bank accounts that have the alleged stolen money in.

I do hope they are keeping the Temples involved under surveillance and searching any vehicles leaving with large loads on board

As for accounts - a classic way to bury large sums is to invest it in bogus companies/corporations which usually have offshore interests, very hard to trace and seize

The temple has branches all over the world apparently 40 at last count.

Each will have multiple bank accounts with facilities to move large amounts of money from account to account and from Thailand to these accounts for 'Religious Purposes" and this will never have been questioned in the past and all tax free and unaccountable.

No problem for someone who has donated millions to the temple to specify that it go to a temple building fund in another country and into an account from which it is then transferred to a 'contractor'. With a percentage to the temple of course.

No need for bags of money, but there will be a trail through banks which the overconfident will not have ever thought they needed to cover.

What was that old song : "Down the trail of laundered baht"

the people are above the law, apparently

Or they like to think they are. I hope they are wrong. One postponement only allowed. Wait & see. It shouldn't be long.

A billion THB is a big number and convert the THB to any currency you like but it still comes out to be a lot of dosh.

Thats a big wow that these Monks won't even show up to chat about it.

I agree with some others in this forum thats it is time to start freezing some bank accounts that have the alleged stolen money in.

I do hope they are keeping the Temples involved under surveillance and searching any vehicles leaving with large loads on board

As for accounts - a classic way to bury large sums is to invest it in bogus companies/corporations which usually have offshore interests, very hard to trace and seize

The temple has branches all over the world apparently 40 at last count.

Each will have multiple bank accounts with facilities to move large amounts of money from account to account and from Thailand to these accounts for 'Religious Purposes" and this will never have been questioned in the past and all tax free and unaccountable.

No problem for someone who has donated millions to the temple to specify that it go to a temple building fund in another country and into an account from which it is then transferred to a 'contractor'. With a percentage to the temple of course.

No need for bags of money, but there will be a trail through banks which the overconfident will not have ever thought they needed to cover.

What was that old song : "Down the trail of laundered baht"

Just follow the money trail, did you say? Hope it is that simple..

From the 1999 attempt to arrest him.If I recall correctly, later an army battery was involved to get him arrested.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/428838.stm

At least 20,000 followers of a controversial Thai monk have gathered at his temple on the outskirts of Bangkok to try and prevent his arrest on charges of fraud and embezzlement.

A warrant for the arrest of Phra Dhammachayo, who is the abbot of the Wat Dhammakaya, was issued on Monday.

Around 100 police are outside the temple complex and devotees have blocked off roads with buses and trucks.

They have warned that police action could provoke violence.

An anti-government activist and supporter of Wat Dhammakaya threatened to set himself alight before burning a Toyota pick-up truck outside Government House.

The Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has appealed for calm and for the abbot to give himself up, but a tense stand-off continues.

"I have asked the education minister, Somsak Prissananunthakul, to invite Phra Dhammachayo to surrender so that authorities can prosecute him," Chuan told reporters at government house. The education ministry has overall control of religious affairs.

A police spokesman set a deadline of 2200 local time (1500 GMT) for the abbot to surrender or face unspecified action.

Massive money laundering operation going on with these guys. They are doing similar things to 'The Monk on the run ' before he hopped of to California via a few other stops. A lot of these 'donations' they talk about are large sums of money entrusted to them for 'cleansing' by people in positions of power and it's all done under the banner of ' Religious purposes ' which means hiding wrongdoing behind the cloak of religion.

The local, minimally educated people will fall for the guys crocodile tears and rally around him.....perhaps long enough for a Helicopter to come in and pick him up. He has been served the usual Thai notice that 'something may happen ', giving him the time to make his getaway as nobody who knows enough wants the man to start singing like a canary.

It's all so very 'Thai'....we've seen it before and you can bet your last buck that we will see it again !

BKK post reported on the 10 of March that the Abbot will be reporting on 26 March to DSI

They are not monks, they are thugs, criminals crooks murderers and rapist, that love to dress up in orange dresses, that says it all

Heaven and Hell is at nowhere but right in our heart.

As you sow so you reap.

Sadhu~