Justice minister defends he has no intention to offend Somdet Chuang



BANGKOK: -- Justice Minister Paiboon Kumchaya has defended that he has no intention whatsoever to offend Somdet Phra Maharatchamangalacharn or Somdet Chuang, the acting supreme patriarch, as accused by the latter’s faithful followers.

The minister said last week that the Department of Special Investigation has no choice but to issue a summons to question Somdet Chuang and probably to issue an arrest warrant if the latter defies the summons to be questioned over the illegal vintage Mercedes Benz saga.

The minister he was fully aware of the sensitivity of the case due to the social status of Somdet Chuang and the fact that the senior monk was alleged to be the owner of the vintage car and, therefore, had to personally oversee the case.

He maintained that he had instructed DSI officials assigned to question Somdet Chuang to show respect to the senior monk and to bring with them incense and candles to pay respect to the senior monk when they went to question him last week.

He insisted that he had done his best not to be seen as offending the senior monk by not confiscating the vintage car in question from a garage which would have attracted media attention. Instead, he said he let Wat Paknam Phasicharoen to return the car to the DSI.

Minister Paiboon blamed Somdet Chuang’s lawyer for not allowing DSI officials to question the senior monk despite the fact that it was the lawyer who made the appointment for the officials to see the monk at the temple for the interrogation.

He said he didn’t think Somdet Chuang was aware of this trick by the lawyer and some of the latter’s aides.

The minister made it clear that, from now on, he would not get involved in the case and he would let the DSI a free hand to handle the case in accordance with the letters of the law – that is if the summons was rejected, the court will be asked to issue arrest warrant and it will depend on the court’s discretion whether to issue the arrest warrant or not.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/156128


-- Thai PBS 2016-03-22

Thailand - where police are expected to show respect to criminals because of their position. Let's see more kick arse and less kiss.

With all this deference, bowing and scraping over just questioning a senior monk you'd have to believe officialdom will bend over backwards to find reasons, no matter how pathetic, to avoid charging him with anything.

The lawyer involved needs to be dealt with too but since he was representing the monk he'll probably have nothing to worry about.

With all this deference, bowing and scraping over just questioning a senior monk you'd have to believe officialdom will bend over backwards to find reasons, no matter how pathetic, to avoid charging him with anything.

The lawyer involved needs to be dealt with too but since he was representing the monk he'll probably have nothing to worry about.

"...you'd have to believe officialdom will bend over backwards..."

Tradition dictates that when dealing with priests one is required to bend forwards. IYKWIM?

And anyone else would simple be rounded up forcefully and bundled down to the station to answer questions by now ... those without "money" or "power" that is.

Dual law system here as we all know.

With all this deference, bowing and scraping over just questioning a senior monk you'd have to believe officialdom will bend over backwards to find reasons, no matter how pathetic, to avoid charging him with anything.

The lawyer involved needs to be dealt with too but since he was representing the monk he'll probably have nothing to worry about.

"...you'd have to believe officialdom will bend over backwards..."

Tradition dictates that when dealing with priests one is required to bend forwards. IYKWIM?

Bend forward to kiss his ' ring ' ?

Oh sorry wrong man and religion and yes I know Buddhism isn't regarded as a religion.

He maintained that he had instructed DSI officials assigned to question Somdet Chuang to show respect to the senior monk and to bring with them incense and candles to pay respect to the senior monk when they went to question him last week.

Absolutely pathetic.