Mercedes under Somdej Chuang’s name is illegal : DSI

“At this point, we can only say that this vehicle is illegal,” DSI director-general Colonel Paisit Wongmuang said yesterday.

The scandal has hurt Somdej Chuang’s chance of officially becoming the country’s top monk. Although the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) has nominated him for the post, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has not yet forwarded his name for royal endorsement. 

The DSI yesterday held a press conference to explain in detail why the Mercedes-Benz is illegal. He said the DSI had investigated the case since 2013. 

He said the investigation found that several suspects allegedly committed legal offences in the import, assembly, excise-tax payment and vehicle-registration process to deliver the beautiful Mercedes-Benz to Somdej Chuang. The charges will include tariff evasion, document forgery and perjury. 

Phra Maha Satsanamunee, the assistant abbot of Wat Paknam, told the DSI he paid Bt4 million for the vehicle and gave it to the temple’s abbot, Somdej Chuang. 

“We will investigate further as to why he has given this Mercedes-Benz to the senior monk,” Paisit said. 

Paisit refused to comment on widespread speculation that the assistant abbot might have intended to take all the blame in this case in an attempt to clear Somdej Chuang. 

Somdej Chuang, also known as Somdej Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn, chairs the SSC. 

 

PM changes mind on debate

After Somdej Phra Nyanasamvara, the late Supreme Patriarch, died in 2013, Somdej Chuang emerged as the strongest contender for the top monk post. 

However, a number of Buddhists including monks recently came forward to oppose his rise to the helm of the country’s Sangha circle. 

Prayut suggested this week that a public debate should be held so both sides in the Sangha conflict could express their opinions. However, the prime minister played down the idea yesterday. 

“Such debates have already taken place every now and then, it seems,” he said. 

Prayut said he had instructed PM’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana and Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam to help find a solution to the issue. 

Phra Buddha Isara, the abbot of Wat Or Noi, is keen to join a debate on the conflict. 

Phra Medhi Dhammajahn, who led thousands of monks in a show of support for Somdej Chuang on Monday, said he needed to check the topics that would be covered in the debate. 

“If the public debate is about whether Buddhism should be included in the new charter, I will be a debater,” he said.

He added: “But if you are going to debate the nomination of Somdej Chuang as the new Supreme Patriarch, I won’t join such a debate in public.” 

He explained that the debate would not be appropriate because Somdej Chuang might be defamed in public and have his reputation damaged. 

Buddhists who support Somdej Chuang yesterday lodged a complaint with police against Phra Buddha Isara, accusing him of giving false information to police. 

That was apparently in retaliation to Phra Buddha Isara’s complaint that the gathering of monks on Monday violated the Public Assembly Act.