Post by Soutpeel on May 30, 2016 7:31:08 GMT 7
Thousands shield abbot
MORE THAN 10,000 people entered Dhammakaya Temple yesterday in a show of support for its embattled abbot Phra Dhammachayo, as authorities sought a way to arrest the high-profile monk.
The controversial monk is wanted on charges of money laundering and accepting ill-gotten gains in relation to his alleged role in a massive embezzlement case involving the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative.
The cooperative's former chief Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, who gave hundreds of million of baht to Phra Dhammachayo, has already been sentenced to jail.
The arrest warrant for Phra Dhammachayo was issued on May 18 after the monk repeatedly failed to answer summonses issued by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). Authorities have said they do not believe the claim that he is too ill to be interviewed by DSI officials.
Last week, Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said the DSI had planned five steps designed to lead to the abbot's arrest, although the exact date of the arrest would be determined by authorities in a bid to preventan escalation of tensions.
www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thousands-shield-abbot-30286989.html
MORE THAN 10,000 people entered Dhammakaya Temple yesterday in a show of support for its embattled abbot Phra Dhammachayo, as authorities sought a way to arrest the high-profile monk.
The controversial monk is wanted on charges of money laundering and accepting ill-gotten gains in relation to his alleged role in a massive embezzlement case involving the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative.
The cooperative's former chief Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, who gave hundreds of million of baht to Phra Dhammachayo, has already been sentenced to jail.
The arrest warrant for Phra Dhammachayo was issued on May 18 after the monk repeatedly failed to answer summonses issued by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). Authorities have said they do not believe the claim that he is too ill to be interviewed by DSI officials.
Last week, Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said the DSI had planned five steps designed to lead to the abbot's arrest, although the exact date of the arrest would be determined by authorities in a bid to preventan escalation of tensions.
www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thousands-shield-abbot-30286989.html
