Prosecutors will take a month to decide whether to indict Phra Dhammachayo

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Prosecutors will take a month to decide whether to indict Phra Dhammachayo



BANGKOK: -- The public prosecution will take about a month to decide whether to indict Phra Dhammachayo as recommended by the Department of Special Investigation or not, said Justice Minister Paiboon Kumchaya on Wednesday.

He admitted that the matter now rests with the public prosecutors in charge of the case and whether they will ask for more evidences from the DSI or not.

But while the public prosecution is yet to make a decision about the case during the one-month period, the justice minister said that the DSI still has a job to fulfil – which is to get hold of the embattled monk of Wat Dhammakaya to acknowledge the charges against him and to bring him before the public prosecutors.

He pointed out a legal requirement – that is if a criminal suspect is to be indicted, he/she must be presented before a public prosecutor. In this case, he said that the prosecutors in charge of the case may ask the DSI officials why they do not bring Phra Dhammachayo to see them if he is to be indicted.

The justice minister pointed out at the dilemma confronted by the DSI – that is if they do not go into the temple, there is a slim chance that they will get Phra Dhammachayo to acknowledge the charges and if they got into the temple, there is a possibility of a confrontation with followers of the monk which may get out of control.

The minister, however, warned that followers of the monk who obstruct DSI officials in their performance of duty will face arrest afterward.

He said that DSI officials had been instructed to take pictures of the defiant followers so that they will be arrested afterward.

General Paiboon admitted he was not unaware of the so-called Kabin 59 plan of the DSI and police to raid Wat Dhammakaya and to arrest Phra Dhammachayo if he still refuses to turn himself in voluntarily to acknowledge the charges against him.

He insisted that the DSI have been restrained all along and have avoided taking tough actions in order not to cause troubles. But, in the meantime, he said the DSI is duty-bound to enforce the law.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/prosecutors-will-take-month-decide-whether-indict-phra-dhammachayo/

-- Thai PBS 2016-06-15

[Inn Between]

So what of they indict him? Why would anybody think that it would actually make a difference? He'll just ignore it

One month should be enough time for everybody to forget, anyway.

[jcsmith]

This whole case is absurd. Storm in and arrest the guy.

[Pimay1]

One month is enough time for certain people to become rich. If you think the DSI can't be bought just remember Tarit.

[Bung]

Yes, whatever you do act restrained and don't cause troubles. We can't have troubles even though the guy is complict in stealing millions of bahts of people's money. Maybe wrote to him again and ask nicely to come and answer the charges. It's possible the last postcard got lost in the mail.

(I just realised this charade is like an episode of game of thrones. One with the high sparrow.)

[chainarong]

This is the reason or one of them why Thailand is now run by a Junta , no guts police force , the RTP are there to uphold the law , with the burning down of a city block and the Suthep saga, U would have thought the RTP would have learnt something by now, evidently not , what is the use of having swat squads, wearing balaclavas , harassing uni students................................................... .

[Lannig]

Yawn

I'm starting to lose interest, which is the whole purpose of this mascarade I guess. Let it eventually fall off the media radar.

@Chainarong: I don't see the junta making any difference in this case, precisely. It would even be a perfect counter-example of your point.

Edited June 15, 2016 by Lannig

[Rayk]

He pointed out a legal requirement – that is if a criminal suspect is to be indicted, he/she must be presented before a public prosecutor.

Just out of curiosity, wasn't Thaksin indicted previously without being brought before a prosecutor.

[Pib]

And the passing of the hot potato continues. A month's delay should help in getting this out of the media's attention so it can slowly be relegated to the point that most everyone loses interest. Delay...delay..delay...continue to pass the potato around.

[dcnx]

Waiting for a bigger brown envelope

[Strangebrew]

Want the abbot simple set fire to temple watch all exits once on way out grab his orange robed arse. If he fails to exit then case closed. move on.

[Chang_paarp]

The headline should read

Prosecutor hopes case will go away. Further hopes everyone forgets it exists.

[trainman34014]

So; after another month of ass scratching and thumb twiddling they will drop the case and another criminal gets away with millions...farcical !

[hgma]

encouraging news for the ordinary Thai citizen to know that their beloved super natural monks will be given all the time in the world to avoid arrest

[Sunderland]

Maybe a bright light on the horizon. Expect a search of the temple from the police/army today.

High probability that the search will result in finding nobody. After all, he has had plenty of time and warning to leave the temple compound.

[Sunderland]

Police, soldiers and probably the entire Thai media expected to enter the temple at 8:00 a.m. today.

[NongKhaiKid]

A month ? Take as long as you want folks as there's no suggestion anyone, all the way to the top, wants this resolved in anything remotely resembling a proper legal conclusion.

Cover your eyes, plenty of sand and large carpets available too, and what you can't see can't exist so no need to do anything.

Sorted, Thai style.

[Emster23]

The public prosecution will take about a month to decide whether to indict Phra Dhammachayo

A month? A MONTH!? Should take about 20 minutes tops. Maybe the ATM withdrawl limits per day for certain parties needs to be raised.

[mikebell]

He'll die of old age before he is arrested & charged.

[klauskunkel]

Such a positive and cheerful face, he always makes me smile...and pinch his cheeks and tousle his hair, that cherub!

[wabothai]

perfect thainess

[Eric Loh]

So; after another month of ass scratching and thumb twiddling they will drop the case and another criminal gets away with millions...farcical !

Slow down. He has not answer to the charges and he is yet to be indicted. Legally he is not a criminal and he did return all the money to back to KCUK and even got a thank you note. I think that's where the anger from the followers are from. The illegal money was 'donated' to the wat in 2009-2011 and only in 2015 did the DSI found that the ex-President KCUK had fraudulently authorized withdrawal. How did the monk know it was illegal donation? legit question. Lots we laymen don't know and the color allegiance messed up even more.

[SOTIRIOS]

...what a joke...but not the funny kind....

[elgordo38]

So what of they indict him? Why would anybody think that it would actually make a difference? He'll just ignore it

One month should be enough time for everybody to forget, anyway.

Because of his stature I doubt he will flee. He can thumb his nose at the government and its minions and get away with it. A month hmm give it enough time to fade away.

[elgordo38]

Yes, whatever you do act restrained and don't cause troubles. We can't have troubles even though the guy is complict in stealing millions of bahts of people's money. Maybe wrote to him again and ask nicely to come and answer the charges. It's possible the last postcard got lost in the mail.

(I just realised this charade is like an episode of game of thrones. One with the high sparrow.)

Careful there is a negative basher lurking here.

[Redline]

He will have been reincarnated by then.