Police hand alleged temple corruption probe to NBO
Police have backed away from the active investigations into alleged corruption involving the National Buddhism Office’s (NBO) budget for temple renovations.
Pol Maj General Kamol Rienracha, who heads the force’s Counter-Corruption Division, confirmed Wednesday that his agency had already forwarded reports into the alleged corruption to the NBO.
“The NBO will set up committees and investigate further itself,” he said.
Kamol denied speculation that his division was pressured to step away. He said it would be easier to let the NBO handle the probe as it had all the information needed.
“If my agency continues conducting random checks at temples across the country, it will take huge resources – in terms of personnel, time and money – to complete the task,” he said.
Earlier this year, several NBO officials were accused of embezzling state funds for the temples. They allegedly transferred the budget to the temples but then asked for some amounts to be returned.
Kamol said he trusted that the NBO would conduct transparent probes.
“It is committed to nailing down culprits,” he said.
He downplayed public concerns about the possibility of NBO trying to help its members.
“If the NBO ignores some suspicious cases, we will look into those cases ourselves,” Kamol said.