No plans to return Dhammakaya Temple donations: lawyer

[webfact]

No plans to return donations: lawyer
PIYANUT TUMNUKASETCHAI,
CHATCHAWAN KAEWKRAJAI
THE NATION

FUNDS ALREADY USED IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS; ABBOT FAILS TO ANSWER DSI SUMMONS

BANGKOK: -- THE Dhammakaya Temple has never had any plans to return the Bt600 million to Bt800 million it received in donations back to the Klong Chan Credit Union , a lawyer for the temple's abbot said yesterday.

Samphan Sermcheep, who represents Phra Dhammachayo, suggested that any reports about the temple promising to return the money allegedly embezzled from the credit union cooperative may have stemmed from the Dhammakaya followers' proposal that some remedy should be offered to the affected members.

"The money can't be returned because the temple has already spent it on the construction of religious structures," Samphan said, as he showed up at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to answer questions on behalf of Phra Dhammachayo.

The DSI is looking into Dhammakaya Temple's financial transactions after evidence suggested that the temple, its abbot and other monks received more than Bt800 million from the cooperative in donations arranged by Supachai Srisupa-aksorn.

Supachai, a former president of the cooperative, has been charged with embezzling more than Bt10 billion from the cooperative.

The DSI summoned Phra Dhammachayo to testify yesterday, but Samphan showed up instead with a written request that the abbot's meeting with the DSI be postponed to March 26.

"He has health problems, including diabetes. He also needs time to compile related documents," Samphan explained.

According to the lawyer, available records show the temple received 13 cheques worth Bt684 million and Phra Dhammachayo never saw these cheques because donations are always presented to him in a bag and then passed on to the temple's finance team.

"The cheques were cashed by the finance team," he said.

Asked whether Phra Dhammachayo was worried about the cooperative's members, Samphan said the abbot made no comments because he was not involved in donation management.

Pol Lt-Colonel Pakorn Suchee-wakul, who heads a DSI team |probing the temple's transactions, said yesterday that Phra Dhammachayo will have to report to the DSI in person because many cheques clearly identified him as the recipient.

In addition to the temple, records show that many other people received funds from the cooperative in a questionable manner. Among those who received these funds is Phra Khru Paladwijahn, the abbot of Wang Hua Waen Temple, who also did not respond to the DSI's summons on Monday.

When a DSI team went to the temple to hand over a second summons, the abbot was nowhere to be seen and other monks at the temple did not want to accept the summons on his behalf because they said they could not get in touch with the abbot either.

In a related development, Padej Mungthanya - who is now serving as president of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative - yesterday demanded that the Agriculture Ministry take responsibility after a fistfight erupted inside the ministry's compound on Monday during a meeting on how to help members of the cooperative.

Some members were enraged at the possibility of having lost their money.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/No-plans-to-return-donations-lawyer-30255754.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-11

[Robby nz]

Asked whether Phra Dhammachayo was worried about the cooperative's members, Samphan said the abbot made no comments because he was not involved in donation management.

As things progress this abbot and his hugely rich organization are looking more and more like a pack of uncaring money grabbers only out to build bigger and grander things for themselves regardless of who they hurt in the process and with no regard for either the law or common decency.

They say they have spent they money that they know is the savings of ordinary people that they know has been stolen from them and use that as an excuse to refuse to give it back even though they have millions that they could use to reimburse those who have lost their savings.

Would this callous excuse work with anyone else, a bank, company, individual ? No way. So why should it work with them ?

Oh of course because they are a temple, a religion.

What's wrong with you anyway you should all be down on your knees worshiping us, handing over your money.

I am not Buddhist and not religious in any way but I have seen how real Buddhists behave and I have also seen some absolutely disgusting things from monks that would be hard to believe from anyone let alone a monk.

The farther into this we get the more this outfit is looking to be up there with the worst.

[Bkungbank]

Buddha teaching abstain from telling lies,stealing. Since the money stolen from the people why it build sin temple since the source of money are from dirty income.

Edited March 11, 2015 by Bkungbank

[MaxLee]

Buddha teaching abstain from telling lies,stealing. Since the money stolen from the people why it build sin temple since the source of money are from dirty income.

That's what you call vicious abuse of social status,...

[colinneil]

He had diabetes, well that wont stop him, just take the meds.

Needs more time. Yes to try to cover up wrong doing.

Because it is a temple every excuse will be used to cover up.

[halloween]

"Some members were enraged at the possibility of having lost their money."

I doubt that they will get 1 sen in the baht.

But will they get merit for their money donated to the wat? Or does that go to the thief that stole it and laundered it there?

[ezzra]

This is a very powerful man who rules over vast fortune in funds and properties, he hides

behind lawyers and snub the authorities knowing full well he has the backings to do so,

Supposedly a men who is sworn to austerity and frugality way of life,

claim to be sick of modern, everyday men's ailments, ailment of people who lives to excesses,,,

[Pimay1]

He also needs time to compile destroy related documents

Fixed that.

[tomacht8]

According to the lawyer, available records show the temple received 13 cheques worth Bt684 million and Phra Dhammachayo never saw these cheques because donations are always presented to him in a bag and then passed on to the temple's finance team.

"The cheques were cashed by the finance team," he said.

implausible and unbelievable.
It sounds as if they, get there cheques in the amount over 600 million Bath daily
There is also no willingness to assist the investigative authorities to help in this fraud case.
The best is to send a SWAT team in, to seize all documents and account books.

When a DSI team went to the temple to hand over a second summons, the abbot was nowhere to be seen and other monks at the temple did not want to accept the summons on his behalf because they said they could not get in touch with the abbot either.

So this abbot is disappeared and evaporated.
Strange that all the suspects then specify to avoid interrogations due health problems.
More time passes, then more evidence, documents and money will disappear.

Edited March 11, 2015 by tomacht8

[siampolee]

The money can't be returned because the temple has already spent it on the construction of religious structures," Samphan said, as he showed up at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to answer questions on behalf of Phra Dhammachayo.

Possibly fences maybe?

Edited March 11, 2015 by siampolee

[Lupatria]

And these guys believe they're Buddhas finest...

[Pimay1]

According to the lawyer, available records show the temple received 13 cheques worth Bt684 million and Phra Dhammachayo never saw these cheques because donations are always presented to him in a bag and then passed on to the temple's finance team.

This statement would insult the intelligence of a moron. Anyone who believes this is certifiable..

[manhood]

So dont spend any money on temples or monks ......They are just spending money for expansive cars, flights, and a good life and support money laundring and corruption!

Not much different then its with the christian way in former time and nowadays....

Sure there are some brave and innocent monks and priests around this worl, but the system makes the money and fails the wise words of the bible, koran or buddah!

[klauskunkel]

The money can't be returned because the temple has already spent it on the construction of religious structures

the religious structure in question is called "Holy Offshore Account to Make Merit for Lord Buddha and Early Retirement in Style" (it sounds better in Thai)

[maidee]

so they don't even have to provide bills ?

800 million in construction ...

thai buddism = big temples, well fed monks, good equipment, cars, tv's, iphones

helping the poor ??????????????

for a funeral or other ceremonies, they don't work for free either !!!

and did the good monk not put several hundred of millions on his own account ?????????

[rametindallas]

If I receive stolen property, by law I'm not allowed to keep it. The Thai singer, Boy, just had his Lamborghini impounded because it was not legal for him to buy it. It doesn't matter if you knew it was illegal or not, you don't get to keep it; that's the law. Impound his temple and put a lock on the gate until he pays the money back to its rightful owners. I'll bet he'll come up with the money real fast then. These money-grubbing monks all (not all monks, just all money-grubbing monks) need to go the the nearest thing to Hell that the authorities on Earth can provide. They prey on the the people like parasites and never produce anything good for the country.

Edited March 11, 2015 by rametindallas

[Strangebrew]

well karma is a bitch hate to say it but my days of handing a bowl of to monks has ended.

[WonnabeBiker]

so they don't even have to provide bills ?

800 million in construction ...

thai buddism = big temples, well fed monks, good equipment, cars, tv's, iphones

helping the poor ??????????????

for a funeral or other ceremonies, they don't work for free either !!!

and did the good monk not put several hundred of millions on his own account ?????????

Come on, how about an accounting for the hundreds of millions?

Is this the best they can do with donations?!? Build more temples instead of putting in Western toilets into poor folks' homes or paying for reflective paint to cool their homes etc.?

Have they actually built temples worth xxx million, or is this just some lame excuse? Where are the receipts - or don't they "do" receipts?

[Rogergreybeard]

I heard that they had to buy some new washing machines because the old ones wore out very quickly

[Srikcir]

Perhaps there is hope that this money issue will so disturb Gen. Prayut to the extent that the government will offer to compensate the investors directly to silence the whole situation - at taxpayer's expense of course.

[issanaus]

Perhaps there is hope that this money issue will so disturb Gen. Prayut to the extent that the government will offer to compensate the investors directly to silence the whole situation - at taxpayer's expense of course.

You mean like when the PTP took the farmers rice and it was left to the incoming government to pay them.

A better idea would be to let the "monks" and academics who benefit from the generosity of Wat Dhammakaya have their march and invite the depositors to meet the march. Yes I do know how Wat Dhammakaya buys it friends.

[Pimay1]

so they don't even have to provide bills ?

800 million in construction ...

thai buddism = big temples, well fed monks, good equipment, cars, tv's, iphones

helping the poor ??????????????

for a funeral or other ceremonies, they don't work for free either !!!

and did the good monk not put several hundred of millions on his own account ?????????

Come on, how about an accounting for the hundreds of millions?

Is this the best they can do with donations?!? Build more temples instead of putting in Western toilets into poor folks' homes or paying for reflective paint to cool their homes etc.?

Have they actually built temples worth xxx million, or is this just some lame excuse? Where are the receipts - or don't they "do" receipts?

Good post. I would like to know of the thousands of members of TVF does anyone have first hand knowledge of any monk or temple anywhere in Thailand giving money to a poor family or poor families when their house burns, wind blows the roof off, child is going to die if the family doesn't get funds for an operation, ect.It may happen but I've never seen it.

[Robby nz]

so they don't even have to provide bills ?

800 million in construction ...

thai buddism = big temples, well fed monks, good equipment, cars, tv's, iphones

helping the poor ??????????????

for a funeral or other ceremonies, they don't work for free either !!!

and did the good monk not put several hundred of millions on his own account ?????????

Come on, how about an accounting for the hundreds of millions?

Is this the best they can do with donations?!? Build more temples instead of putting in Western toilets into poor folks' homes or paying for reflective paint to cool their homes etc.?

Have they actually built temples worth xxx million, or is this just some lame excuse? Where are the receipts - or don't they "do" receipts?

They have indeed built temples and not just worth millions but billions, they have at last count 40 branches all over the world and 2 satellite TV stations broadcasting in several languages.

[Robby nz]

so they don't even have to provide bills ?

800 million in construction ...

thai buddism = big temples, well fed monks, good equipment, cars, tv's, iphones

helping the poor ??????????????

for a funeral or other ceremonies, they don't work for free either !!!

and did the good monk not put several hundred of millions on his own account ?????????

Come on, how about an accounting for the hundreds of millions?

Is this the best they can do with donations?!? Build more temples instead of putting in Western toilets into poor folks' homes or paying for reflective paint to cool their homes etc.?

Have they actually built temples worth xxx million, or is this just some lame excuse? Where are the receipts - or don't they "do" receipts?

Good post. I would like to know of the thousands of members of TVF does anyone have first hand knowledge of any monk or temple anywhere in Thailand giving money to a poor family or poor families when their house burns, wind blows the roof off, child is going to die if the family doesn't get funds for an operation, ect.It may happen but I've never seen it.

There are indeed many good temples and good monks who live Dharma and help people.

One is the much maligned (by PT supporters) Buddha Issara who is involved with helping cancer patients.

There is another story in todays BKK Post, 'Snubbed because shes a monk'. About a female monk who runs a home for children with AIDS and HIV and for sexually abused girls.

The monk who was shot dead earlier this month in Udon Thani was an ex doctor who was caring for elderly and sick monks.

I recently went and picked someone up from one of the Santi Asoke centers, nothing ostentatious there, all on bare feet and one meal a day. They also run homes for AIDS patients.

Many other good ones, but as we see with this story the bad ones can be very bad.

[cookee68]

He had diabetes, well that wont stop him, just take the meds.

Needs more time. Yes to try to cover up wrong doing.

Because it is a temple every excuse will be used to cover up.

Yep even the bit about the monks would not accept the summons on his behalf as they had no way of getting hold of him, cant be that hard if he is that ill, next you will hear is that he died and they have already burnt him, and his twin brother who nobody knew about until recently has come to manage his affairs, and work on behalf of religion, this would make a nice soap opera, and one that would be believed

[cookee68]

so they don't even have to provide bills ?

800 million in construction ...

thai buddism = big temples, well fed monks, good equipment, cars, tv's, iphones

helping the poor ??????????????

for a funeral or other ceremonies, they don't work for free either !!!

and did the good monk not put several hundred of millions on his own account ?????????

Come on, how about an accounting for the hundreds of millions?

Is this the best they can do with donations?!? Build more temples instead of putting in Western toilets into poor folks' homes or paying for reflective paint to cool their homes etc.?

Have they actually built temples worth xxx million, or is this just some lame excuse? Where are the receipts - or don't they "do" receipts?

They have indeed built temples and not just worth millions but billions, they have at last count 40 branches all over the world and 2 satellite TV stations broadcasting in several languages.

And bought expensive cars, and planes, and electrical goods, and phones, and big bank accounts the list goes on, lately the bad is out weighing the good, and it is now all coming to light, like many religions before it, and as many after I guess. religion is meant to be free, yet it costs, in many ways.

[Pimay1]

so they don't even have to provide bills ?

800 million in construction ...

thai buddism = big temples, well fed monks, good equipment, cars, tv's, iphones

helping the poor ??????????????

for a funeral or other ceremonies, they don't work for free either !!!

and did the good monk not put several hundred of millions on his own account ?????????

Come on, how about an accounting for the hundreds of millions?

Is this the best they can do with donations?!? Build more temples instead of putting in Western toilets into poor folks' homes or paying for reflective paint to cool their homes etc.?

Have they actually built temples worth xxx million, or is this just some lame excuse? Where are the receipts - or don't they "do" receipts?

Good post. I would like to know of the thousands of members of TVF does anyone have first hand knowledge of any monk or temple anywhere in Thailand giving money to a poor family or poor families when their house burns, wind blows the roof off, child is going to die if the family doesn't get funds for an operation, ect.It may happen but I've never seen it.

There are indeed many good temples and good monks who live Dharma and help people.

One is the much maligned (by PT supporters) Buddha Issara who is involved with helping cancer patients.

There is another story in todays BKK Post, 'Snubbed because shes a monk'. About a female monk who runs a home for children with AIDS and HIV and for sexually abused girls.

The monk who was shot dead earlier this month in Udon Thani was an ex doctor who was caring for elderly and sick monks.

I recently went and picked someone up from one of the Santi Asoke centers, nothing ostentatious there, all on bare feet and one meal a day. They also run homes for AIDS patients.

Many other good ones, but as we see with this story the bad ones can be very bad.

Thanks for the reply. Quite refreshing to know. I wish more monks would do likewise especially here in Isaan where there are so many poor.

[rametindallas]

well karma is a bitch hate to say it but my days of handing a bowl of to monks has ended.

When they come to your house, tell them you know of a monk that has enough money to feed all the monks in Thailand for a lifetime and he doesn't need to get food from poor people any more.

[tomyummer]

If all temples returned donations stemming from corruption, hardly any temples would exist in Thailand.