DSI to charge abbot of Wat Dhammakaya
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THE Department of Special Investigation (DSI) investigating the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC) case has resolved to file charges against Wat Dhammakaya abbot Phra Dhammachayo and others for allegedly aiding former cooperative chairman Supachai
The case report would next week be submitted to public prosecutors, who would also decide whether to file charges against anyone else, said acting DSI chief Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang yesterday.
Paisit said the investigation team led by Pol Lt-Colonel Pakorn Suchivakul, which followed the money trail in the KCUC case, had completed its probe into Wat Dhammakaya and the Dhammakaya Foundation (also known as Maha Ratana Upasika Chandra Foundation).
They found that these two groups had received cheques on 21 occasions, totalling more than Bt1.205 billion from the cooperative between March 5, 2009 and February 15, 2011, despite owing no debt to the cooperative, he said.
The investigators discussed with Khajornsak Phutthanuparp, head of a public prosecutor team joining the probe, and resolved that such an action by Phra Dhammachayo and others was tantamount to aiding Supachai’s alleged embezzlement or theft, money laundering and abuse of authority, added Paisit.
The DSI investigators found that Supachai had signed 878 cheques worth Bt11.367 billion to eight groups and individuals.
They included the Phra Dhammachayo’s Wat Dhammakaya group, the Dhammakaya Foundation and network monks, other cooperatives, other legal entities and land brokers, Paisit said.
In September, the KCUC submitted to the asset administrator – the Legal Execution Department – a rehabilitation plan to aid the cooperative’s creditors who had been affected by the Bt12-billion embezzlement. The plan was passed on to all 18,869 creditors to study and seek amendments, before the creditors’ meeting in mid-December or early January.
