Phra Dhammachayo and his Dhammakaya Temple face total of 350 charges

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Phra Dhammachayo and his Dhammakaya Temple face total of 350 charges
By Suriya Patathayo
The Nation

 

BANGKOK: -- Police are now pursuing more than 350 legal cases against Phra Dhammachayo and his Dhammakaya Temple. 

 

Deputy National Police Commissioner Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said on Monday that of these cases, more than 10 had led to the issuance of more arrest warrants. 

 

Phra Dhammachayo, the controversial former abbot of the temple, has been facing an arrest warrant since last year over money-laundering charges in connection with embezzlement at the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative. 

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30308092

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-06

[Cuchulainn]

Unless they get paid handsomely, I'm sure!!

[Khun Han]

Interesting article on New Mandala by someone who has studied the Dammachaya phenomenon for 20 years, and is certainly not a supporter. He reckons this carry on is basically about two things: the junta getting their hands on the movement's wealth; the junta getting complete control of Thai Buddhism, with other independent temple movements being targeted.

[tukkytuktuk]

Interesting article on New Mandala by someone who has studied the Dammachaya phenomenon for 20 years, and is certainly not a supporter. He reckons this carry on is basically about two things: the junta getting their hands on the movement's wealth; the junta getting complete control of Thai Buddhism, with other independent temple movements being targeted.

Well he'd be right if the temple was paved with gold but they can't even pay back the money they laundered. The temple has paid back only 350 million baht. Still waiting on the 1.3 billion baht it owes. The gold statue of 1 ton solid gold. Is it sold gold or gold plated? Do you trust these guys to make it in solid gold?

The Thaksin link. He only went there once during his Prime Minister ship. Many famous politicians and famous people have been there. No, the abbot is wanted for fraud plain and simple and is making a laughing stock out of the recent coup makers. They're peeved off and want a quick solution. It's a big face game and that's all.

[mtls2005]

but they can't even pay back the money they laundered.

 

The KCCU money has been repaid, the new head of the KCCU has no issues with this temple or its honorary abbot, although he does have an issue with the DSI holding 3.4 billion baht. And where is all the other money embezzled? Maybe best you don't ask.

 

from the referenced article (but common knowledge, widely publicized):

 

The monastery received a large donation from the Klong Chan Credit Union Cooperative (comprising 52,000 members).  The ex-head of the credit union Supachai Srisupa-aksorn is now serving 16 years’ jail time for embezzlement after dishing out a massive 11.3 billion Baht (878 cheques issued through 10 Thai banks) of members’ money to six main organisations and numerous linked groups and individuals (see here and here).

 

The groups who received money (many of them obtaining sums far exceeding Dhammakaya) have not been charged; it is only Abbot Dhammachayo who is hunted. The religious movement has claimed that it has repaid the money donated from the union, after realising the problematic source of the payment. The credit union said that henceforth they have no issues with the temple. However, DSI (whose boss was not long ago replaced for not bringing the temple down) have not stopped and continue to pursue the hapless religious leader.

 

DSI and the Office of the Attorney General apparently recouped Baht 3.8 billion, and no one, seemingly, knows where the money is. The credit union’s new chairperson (Mr Prakit Pilangasa in interview on Satellite Channel 29, and Digital TV Channel 19, interviews 23 and 24 February 2017) plans to take legal action against DSI and the Attorney General to recover this money.

 

 

 

Edited March 6, 2017 by mtls2005

[darksidedog]

Charges being laid 350. Impressive.

Monk in custody, 0. Not so impressive.

You cant really charge him till you catch him. Good luck with that, as it hasn't been going too well so far.

[akirasan]

[elgordo38]

21 hours ago, Khun Han said:

Interesting article on New Mandala by someone who has studied the Dammachaya phenomenon for 20 years, and is certainly not a supporter. He reckons this carry on is basically about two things: the junta getting their hands on the movement's wealth; the junta getting complete control of Thai Buddhism, with other independent temple movements being targeted.

Makes sense. Should pay for the subs if they can find the gelt. A real treasure hunt. 

[elgordo38]

By the time they find him the charges should be numbered in the 1,000's. Should just about eat up all his stash. 

Edited March 7, 2017 by elgordo38