Doctor insists controversial monk is unwell, DSI says
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A DOCTOR who claimed that Phra Dhammachayo, abbot of the high-profile Wat Dhammakaya, is unwell in an excuse submitted to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has insisted his medical opinion is valid, a senior DSI official said yesterday. DSI ha
Dr Choochai Phornphatthanaphan, a resident doctor at privately-run Rattanavej Polyclinic, insists that the monk was suffering from diabetes and had a blood vein blockage in his thigh. His evidence will be used when the DSI decides on whether to question the monk at another location easier for him to travel to, instead of the DSI headquarters in northern Bangkok, Somboon Sarasit said.
The abbot has put off two summons from the DSI, claiming the doctor had recommended that he should rest.
Phra Dhammachayo has been under a cloud of suspicion for allegedly receiving Bt814.8 million from Supachai Supa-aksorn, a former chairman of the credit union, charged with embezzlement over the loss of Bt15 billion of cooperative members’ savings.
The DSI yesterday questioned a monk identified as Phra Sunant Panyasatho, who received Bt60 million from the cooperative, which was partly spent on a development project for a Nakhon Ratchasima pro-Dhammakaya school. The results of the questioning are not known yet.
Meanwhile, a woman who helped mediate a purchase of 2,000 rai in Nakhon Ratchasima by Supachai eight years ago said the former Klongchan boss had not fully repaid Bt38 million he borrowed from her, another DSI official, Pakorn Sucheewakul, said.
