DSI finally interviews Phra Dhammachayo
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Abbot Phra Dhammachayo of Wat Dhammakaya yesterday denied that he had anything to do with 13 cheques in which he was designated as the recipient of a large amount of money donated to him by the former chairman of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative and
Speaking as a witness before the Department of Special Investigation agents who visited him at the Pathum Thani-based temple, the monk claimed that he had never seen the cheques.
The monk reportedly answered other questions in the closed-door session, before the DSI agents left.
The temple’s lawyer, Samphan Sermcheep, later gave an interview to the press and insisted “the abbot had neither seen the cheques nor even touched them”.
Phra Dhammachayo’s statement to DSI came after he cancelled the two previously scheduled meetings citing illnesses and a doctor’s recommendation he take a long rest.
The DSI agents are believed to have examined the monk to determine whether his condition matched the doctor’s examination results.
A deputy DSI director-general, Phaisit Wongmuang, later gave a contradictory account, saying that the abbot admitted to receiving the cheques but had assigned the temple’s accountancy chief, Phra Maha Bunchai Jaruthatto, to explain how the money was cashed and subsequently processed – details Phaisit did not provide.
Phra Maha was present at yesterday's meeting.
Phaisit said Phra Dhammachayo showed agents diabetic sores at his foot and leg, and told them he had not had a leg amputated despite doctors’ recommendation to do so.
He said the sores, along with his allergies, meant he could not walk and he had decided not to go outside the temple compound for a while.
In a meeting in March with DSI agents, Phra Maha and Samphan said that of the 13 cheques seven had Phra Dhammachayo's name as the recipient and the six others had Wat Dhammakaya as the recipient.
Samphan said there were two other cheques with Phra Dhammachayo’s name as the recipient, but they were not payee-only cheques and could have been cashed by anyone.
Phra Maha reportedly said that there were millions of Wat Dhammakaya’s followers and he did not know who cashed those cheques.
According to the DSI, the 15 cheques were issued by Supachai for a total of Bt875 million that was donated to the temple.
