Court issues arrest warrant for Phra Dhammachayo

[webfact]

Court issues arrest warrant for Phra Dhammachayo



BANGKOK: -- The Ratchadapisek Criminal Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Phra Dhammachayo on charges of money laundering and receiving stolen objects in connection with several cheques issued under his name by the former chairman of Klongchan Credit Union Cooperatives Supachai Srisupa-aksorn.

The court spent about five hours deliberating the request of the Department of Special Investigation for the arrest of the embattled abbot of Wat Dhammakaya and accompanying evidence presented by Pol Lt-Col Pakorn Suchivakul, commander of the financial and banking affairs of the DSI, and Mr Kachornsak Putthanuparb, a special prosecutor.

The DSI’s request for the arrest warrant followed the abbot’s lawyer’s request to postpone for the second time the DSI’s appointment for Phra Dhammachayo to report himself to the department to acknowledge the charges against him on ground of sickness.

DSI chief Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang said he would hold a meeting with officials concerned on Wednesday to discuss about issuing a letter of notification to Phra Dhammachayo asking him to turn himself in within 15 days failing that DSI officials will to the temple to make the arrest.

Meanwhile, Mr Samphan Sermcheep, the abbot’s lawyer, told reporters that he had submitted a petition to the court opposing the arrest warrant claiming that the embattled abbot was really sick and had never shown any signs that he would escape.

The lawyer said he had presented the court with evidences from a clinic at the temple and from the director of Panurangsee army hospital in Ratchaburi to prove the abbot’s sickness.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/163669


-- Thai PBS 2016-05-18

[NongKhaiKid]

A court issues an arrest warrant and yet there's a move to write to him ASKING he turn himself in within 15 days or he will be arrested.

Oh really, will he actually be arrested or will more excuses be found and extensions given.

Law enforcement Thai style. How can anyone take it seriously because officialdom certainly doesn't, depending on who you are.

[colinneil]

What a joke!! Please come and see us, speak with us about you being a thief, money launderer.

Arrest warrant issued ok , has he been arrested?

If i can find the time i will respond. Ohh sorry i have DVT so i cannot come.

Arrest him lock him up, stop playing games with him.

He is making a mockery of Thai justice.

[Valentine]

I wonder if he will soon seek medical treatment elsewhere.

[ezzra]

" evidences from a clinic at the temple and from the director of Panurangsee army hospital in Ratchaburi to prove the abbot’s sickness. "

Ok now, that's make a big different, evidences from the temple clinic, ok than, we must believe them,

as their are not at all bias, partial or have taken a side in the issue, he can play for time all he wants,

at the end he will have to do like every other Meer mortal doing when the DSI summons you....

[thesetat2013]

So if he doesn't turn himself in within 15 days they will go arrest him? Is this their way of giving him time to pack his bags and flew? This can not be normal procedure as I have read too many times about police getting their warrants and making arrest immediately. So this must be a social thing for the rich and powerful.

Let's see how many monks he can round up to block and protect the guy from arrest in a couple weeks. This drama may prove interesting to see who is the tougher force. The RTP and perhaps Army vs The Monks.

[Thechook]

I wonder if he will soon seek medical treatment elsewhere.

I hear Singapore provides excellent medical services.

[BigBadGeordie]

I doubt he is worried about being held on remand as little would change in his personal circumstances.

I am sure he follows a simple life now, sleeping on the bare floor in a single "cell", no external distractions such as tv or internet and a simple vegetarian diet.

For he is a good monk who will soon reach enlightenment.

[SABloke]

I love the ''justice'' system in this country. First we had ''The Jatuporn'': Don't need to go to prison, because have never been to prison before Now the lawyer is trying to create ''The Dhammachayo'': Don't need to be arrested if not intending to leave the country Some TV members always say, ''Thailand's third world what do you expect''...that's a BS statement: It's fourth world at best

Edited May 18, 2016 by SABloke

[soalbundy]

What a joke!! Please come and see us, speak with us about you being a thief, money launderer.

Arrest warrant issued ok , has he been arrested?

If i can find the time i will respond. Ohh sorry i have DVT so i cannot come.

Arrest him lock him up, stop playing games with him.

He is making a mockery of Thai justice.

Thai justice can do that all by itself.

[silent]

What a joke!! Please come and see us, speak with us about you being a thief, money launderer.

Arrest warrant issued ok , has he been arrested?

If i can find the time i will respond. Ohh sorry i have DVT so i cannot come.

Arrest him lock him up, stop playing games with him.

He is making a mockery of Thai justice.

Thai justice can do that all by itself.

I'm having a vision. It looks like Steve Jobs. No wait, it's the Captain of ship. I see the word Bounty now and another ship coming to board it with the name S of F on the bow and people wearing jackets with letters on the back look like FBI.

Now I see someone wearing what looks like an orange jump suit in something that looks like a jail before the birth of Jesus Christ, There're cameras and a microphone.around him. He's talking to a room full of people that look like from the 21st century asking questions in an inquiry.

Oh forget it, now I see he looks nothing like the Oklahoma bomber trial, it's in the land of smiles so it'll be at least another 20 years before catching up with that kind of technology.

[Caveat Emptor]

It was reported that the flashy monk who was able to clear out his substantial bank accounts before leaving the country quite easily was well connected.

Given the status of this monk just how many people are operating behind the scenes on his behalf ?

Will we hear from the PM on this ? He micro-manages so many little things yet when it's something substantial he seems to disappear.

I know he's in Russia so does that mean he has no idea what's happening at home ?

[NongKhaiKid]

It was reported that the flashy monk who was able to clear out his substantial bank accounts before leaving the country quite easily was well connected.

Given the status of this monk just how many people are operating behind the scenes on his behalf ?

Will we hear from the PM on this ? He micro-manages so many little things yet when it's something substantial he seems to disappear.

I know he's in Russia so does that mean he has no idea what's happening at home ?

Not sure I'd call sorting out bike lanes as a ' little thing ', takes exceptional ability to organise that sort of issue.

[tukkytuktuk]

History repeats itself in Thailand as the last major reordering of the sangha so that it was aligned with authoritarian principles of government was under General Sarit Thanarat. He made it so that he Buddhist hierarchy was a firm supporter of his military government. Control of all religion, the nation (senate) and something that cannot be discussed is absolute power.

Look past the corruption and see the big picture, it's frightening. God help us all!

[Srikcir]

The court spent about five hours deliberating the request

A justice system by committee and this is what you get.

Five hours suggests a vigorous oppositon to the arrest warrant and possibly some compromise to issue the arrest warrant.

Perhaps a deal that Dhammakaya will be allowed to appeal the arrest warrant without ever actually being arrested? Thus, affirmation of the arrest warrant would pass onto a higher court.

[Bluespunk]

"had never shown any signs that he would escape."

Why would he need to, he knows his friends ultimately will see nothing happens to him.

[Bluespunk]

What a joke!! Please come and see us, speak with us about you being a thief, money launderer.

Arrest warrant issued ok , has he been arrested?

If i can find the time i will respond. Ohh sorry i have DVT so i cannot come.

Arrest him lock him up, stop playing games with him.

He is making a mockery of Thai justice.

Nah, he's just reflecting it.

[Eric Loh]

I love the ''justice'' system in this country. First we had ''The Jatuporn'': Don't need to go to prison, because have never been to prison before Now the lawyer is trying to create ''The Dhammachayo'': Don't need to be arrested if not intending to leave the country Some TV members always say, ''Thailand's third world what do you expect''...that's a BS statement: It's fourth world at best

The justice system in this country is indeed perculiar. The temple did returned the money back to KCUC but the DSI correctly state that the wrongdoings had been committed and the legal case must therefore be continued. Wasn't there a similar case not too long ago and no legal case was even talk about.