NBTC temporarily suspends Dhammakaya TV channel following DSI request

The suspension was in response to a Department of Special Investigation (DSI) request claiming the station was encouraging viewers to gather at the Pathum Thani-based Wat Dhammakaya for merit-making activities.
The DSI stated that the temple’s followers were being gathered to disrupt the DSI’s investigation into a scandal involving abbot Phra Dhammachayo.
Meanwhile, a Wat Dhammakaya statement said the DMC channel did not incite anyone or create chaos as claimed by DSI personnel, adding that the temple would file an objection to the suspension.
After an urgent NBTC meeting yesterday, commissioner Thawatchai Jittrapanun said the DMC channel was temporarily suspended on the grounds that it had breached Section 64 of the Broadcasting and Television Business Operations Act of 2008 and the National Council for Peace and Order’s announcement No 97.
NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said the panel held the meeting after it received an urgent letter from the DSI on Tuesday. DSI chief Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang also said the DMC suspension made way for an impending search of the temple’s grounds for Phra Dhammachayo.
Paisit also quoted National Office of Buddhism (NOB) chief Phanom Sornsilpa as saying that an NOB team could not make the fugitive abbot surrender. He added that the DSI would seek an arrest warrant soon, and NOB officials and senior monks would help with the search operation.
The DSI has been ordered to apprehend the abbot, who faces charges of money laundering and receiving stolen assets linked to the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative embezzlement case.
A source on the investigation team said embezzled money donated to the temple was allegedly distributed among monks and outside nominees, who were told to purchase large amounts of shares in the stock market. The source said the DSI would look into the allegations.
Wat Dhammakaya has dismissed the stock-buying allegations and urged the DSI to provide evidence to prevent confusion and do justice to the temple.
Separately, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Phra Dhammachayo’s arrest was necessary while calling on the media to refrain from covering his conditions for surrender and instead to observe the DSI-led search operation.
In a related development, acting Special Branch Bureau 4 chief Pol Maj-General Chayapol Chatchaidech said Wat Dhammakaya’s acting abbot had until next Tuesday to surrender and hear charges of harbouring a fugitive and not performing his duties. Chayapol added that a previous report that Phra Thattachivo was serving as acting abbot was incorrect.
Meanwhile, deputy national police chief Pol General Srivara Ransibrahamakul said police, the DSI and related agencies would hold a meeting on Friday to discuss the arrest of Phra Dhammachayo.
He said police would let the DSI conduct its operation before pursuing the monk on a separate arrest warrant related to a Nakhon Ratchasima land-encroachment case.