Change of plan in bid to arrest fugitive monk Dhammachayo
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is ready to adjust its previous action plan to launch a joint DSI-police-Army operation to arrest fugitive Phra Dhammachayo, former abbot of Wat Dhammakaya in Pathum Thani, DSI chief Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang said Wednesday.
The monk, believed to be hiding in the temple, is wanted for money-laundering charges linked to a high-profile embezzlement case as well as separate land-encroachment cases. Paisit said the vast temple currently had up to 3,000 disciples on site.
Justice Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana’s has instructed the agency to begin negotiations to secure the monk’s surrender or arrange other legal actions to bring the monk to trial.
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