DSI delays decision on monk
Pongpat Wongyala
Authorities failed to reach a conclusion on how to deal with Phra Dhammajayo, who faces and an arrest warrant, at their second meeting yesterday and will re-convene again next Tuesday out solution.
Wat Phra Dhammakaya's ambattled abbot has failed to come forward to acknowledge charges of money laundering and receiving stolen assets in connection with the Klongchan Credit Union Coop Criminal Court having approved an arrest warrant against him.
On Friday, the abbot's representatives proposed three conditions:the abbot must be granted bail when hearing the charge;Phra Theprattanasuthi, who is the chief monk of Phathum Thani province in which Wat Phra Dhammakaya is located, must also be present when the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) meets the abbot; and only a medical team from Phramongkutklao Hospital could be sent to check on the health of the 72-years-old abbot.
The DSI, the national office of Buddhism, and Phra Theprattanasuthi met yesterday to fine out how to deal with these conditions.
Wat Phra Dhamnakaya did not send a representative to attend the meeting as requested.
DSI deputy chief, Somboon Sarasit, said after the meeting were three or four options for dealing with the abbot, including expediting the investigation and forwarding the probe's report to public prosecutors regardless of whether the abbot's condition for meeting authorities will be reached; seeking help from the governing monk in Pathum Thani and the ONAB to deal with the monk based on the Clergy Act; and seeking cooperation from other parties.
Solutions will be discussed at the meeting next Tuesday and they must be in line with the law, said Pol Lt Col somboon.
Phra Theprattanasuthi's adviser, Somsak Toraksa, said yesterday that two conditions proposed by Wat Phra DhummKaya were agreed upon by those at the meeting, but refused to discuss them.
It is bilieve the unacceptable condition is that only a medical team from Phramongkutklao Hospital be allowed to check on the abbot's health, sources said.
The Medical Council of Thailand I prepared to send a team to check on the abbot as requested previously by the temple.
Secretary-general Sampan Komrit has accepted the request to check Phra Dhummajayo's health condition clear to the public.
The abbot claims he is too I'll to report to the DSI to hear the charges. However the council has not yet received a response from the monk.
Meanwhile, DSI chief Paisit Wongmeung said his agency is working with the governing monks to look into disciplinary action against Phra Dhummajayo and its investigation into the case.
He said an investigation team had been sent to find out where the abbot was in the temple.
Pol Col Paisit also said the temple also has asked the DSI to change some investigators.
Lt Gen Dr Chumpol Paimsomboon, chief of the army-run Phramongkutklao Hospital, said those who want his hospital's doctors to examine the abbot must eek permission from the army.
He said the DSI or Wat Phra Dhammahaya must contact the army to proceed, though he insisted doctors from other hospitals are also capable of doing such tasks are it is not necessary to only invite those from Phramongkutklao Hospital.