DSI to take one month to investigate Somdet Chuang's vintage Mercedes



BANGKOK: -- Investigation into the vintage Mercedes Benz allegedly owned by Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn, alias Somdet Chuang, abbot of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, will be completed within a month.

Pol Maj Woramun Srilum, director of special cases of the Department of Special Investigation, told the media on Tuesday that investigators concerned would take about a month to examine all the relevant documents regarding the vintage Mercedes to determine whether the car was properly registered and whether the car was imported in fully-assembled form or in parts and assembled later on.

He said that it was yet to be decided whether DSI officials would make a final inspection of the car at the temple’s museum or it would be brought to the DSI for examination.

He promised to wrap up the case as quick as possible for the benefits of all parties concerned.

Somdet Chuang was nominated by the Sangha Supreme Council to be the next supreme patriarch on January 5.

Members of the media were allowed to visit the museum where several vintage cars are kept in the company of DSI officials and two temple officials, one of whom also a legal advisor of the temple.

The officials presented to the DSI officials a document certifying the 3,000-cc engine of the vintage Mercedes in question was imported in the form of a spare part belonging to Somdet Chuang.

A temple official, Mr Damkerng Chindra, said that Somdet Chuang welcomed the investigation but he claimed that the vintage Mercedes was donated to the temple’s abbot by a follower five years ago. He admitted that some of the spare parts were imported.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/147283


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-20

Govt: Appointment of new Supreme Patriarch not being delayed

BANGKOK, 20 January 2016 (NNT) - Prime Minister’s Office Minister Suwapan Tanyuwattana has confirmed the government is not delaying the appointment of a new Supreme Patriarch. The National Office of Buddhism will be asked to go over the appointment again of there are still unclear issues.

The minister said on Tuesday that he had asked the director of the National Office of Buddhism to compile all of the information regarding the appointment of a new Supreme Patriarch. He added that the Department of Special Investigation would inspect vintage cars at Wat Pak Nam where the most senior Supreme Patriarch candidate, Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn, was the abbot.

The controversial nomination of Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn as the 20th Supreme Patriarch of Thailand made headlines when a network of 10 Buddhist organizations submitted a letter to the chairman of the National Reform Committee to oppose the nomination.


-- NNT 2016-01-20

Dont hold your breath. Been more than 3 years since the pink Bentley fiasco and he's still being chauffered around in it, even after the barrage of lies that it was owned by some Singaporean that lent it to me bs. This will drag on for ever too.

Note that the car in question was donated to the temple, not to the abbot personally.

It is not drivable, and was de-registered as a motor vehicle, before being given to the temple. It is on display, free of charge, along with all kinds of other oddments (including a nice collection of Thai canoes) at the monastery. Go take a look if you want.

This is a proxy war for those who can't stop dabbling in politics.

It always sounds ominous when an official says something to the tune of "trying to ensure justice for all concerned parties"... It just sounds the same as saying "we're going to spin some outright lies and half truths when the heat dies down a bit, so don't expect anything different".

You never hear these kind of statements for run of the mill cases involving normal and / or poor people, only the super rich and connected. Pathetic

DSI Case Conference :

" i want this investigated fully to establish what connections etc this man has so we don't step on important toes, nothing else matters. "

Note that the car in question was donated to the temple, not to the abbot personally.

It is not drivable, and was de-registered as a motor vehicle, before being given to the temple. It is on display, free of charge, along with all kinds of other oddments (including a nice collection of Thai canoes) at the monastery. Go take a look if you want.

This is a proxy war for those who can't stop dabbling in politics.

I still don't understand why it wasn't sold and the proceeds used to help those in need. A vintage car on display does nothing to help the poor people. Just my thoughts...

This must be a really special case as it is being handled by the "director of SPECIAL cases of the Department of SPECIAL investigations."

Perhaps some of those involved have "SPECIAL NEEDS".

Edited January 20, 201610 yr by BigBadGeordie

Note that the car in question was donated to the temple, not to the abbot personally.

It is not drivable, and was de-registered as a motor vehicle, before being given to the temple. It is on display, free of charge, along with all kinds of other oddments (including a nice collection of Thai canoes) at the monastery. Go take a look if you want.

This is a proxy war for those who can't stop dabbling in politics.

if that is the case WHY would they import another engine and other spare parts? Strange don't you think?

This must be a really special case as it is being handled by the "director of SPECIAL cases of the Department of SPECIAL investigations."

Perhaps some of those involved have "SPECIAL NEEDS".

The need not to be indicted, implicated or found liable for anything in any way.

Amazing how the independent agencies can shuffle the pack, leave, take up. start, bury cases depending on who is pushing for what to be completed. I was under the impression these agencies would investigate cases in a systematic and without prejudice basis. Obviously i was wrong, and some cases take precedent over others depending on who is or is not involved.

They don't say which year that the 'month' will be in though do they !

My position is clear,

No way people can buy their stairways to heaven, so tax for all.

.....my gosh.....

Note that the car in question was donated to the temple, not to the abbot personally.

It is not drivable, and was de-registered as a motor vehicle, before being given to the temple. It is on display, free of charge, along with all kinds of other oddments (including a nice collection of Thai canoes) at the monastery. Go take a look if you want.

This is a proxy war for those who can't stop dabbling in politics.

I still don't understand why it wasn't sold and the proceeds used to help those in need. A vintage car on display does nothing to help the poor people. Just my thoughts...

Unlike Christianity, whose founding rabbi made helping the poor an important part of his message (as it was also an important part of the orders given to the Jews), Buddhism, although it preaches compassion, does not have alleviating current physical suffering as its primary goal. Suffering is ended by ending the cycle of rebirth. The Buddha never said, as Jesus did, "If you want to go to heaven go, sell all that you own, give to the poor, and come follow me."

Note that the car in question was donated to the temple, not to the abbot personally.

It is not drivable, and was de-registered as a motor vehicle, before being given to the temple. It is on display, free of charge, along with all kinds of other oddments (including a nice collection of Thai canoes) at the monastery. Go take a look if you want.

This is a proxy war for those who can't stop dabbling in politics.

There seems to be a disconnect here. If the car is not drivable, and was de-registered as a motor vehicle, why did the abbot need to import a 3 liter Mercedes engine for it? That seems like a heck of a big engine, by the way. I've mostly forgotten, but my vague memory is that an engine that big would be used in a racing car.

"One month" ... or maybe just a little more.

These things can get mighty complicated

Note that the car in question was donated to the temple, not to the abbot personally.

It is not drivable, and was de-registered as a motor vehicle, before being given to the temple. It is on display, free of charge, along with all kinds of other oddments (including a nice collection of Thai canoes) at the monastery. Go take a look if you want.

This is a proxy war for those who can't stop dabbling in politics.

I still don't understand why it wasn't sold and the proceeds used to help those in need. A vintage car on display does nothing to help the poor people. Just my thoughts...

Unlike Christianity, whose founding rabbi made helping the poor an important part of his message (as it was also an important part of the orders given to the Jews), Buddhism, although it preaches compassion, does not have alleviating current physical suffering as its primary goal. Suffering is ended by ending the cycle of rebirth. The Buddha never said, as Jesus did, "If you want to go to heaven go, sell all that you own, give to the poor, and come follow me."

Well pleased to meet you, as you are obviuosly old, given the fact you can quote verbatum what Jesus and the Bubbha said?

Or are you just telling us what we can read elsewhere