DSI ‘unsure’ it can nab Dhammachayo despite raid warrant

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday disclosed it had already secured a warrant from the court and would search the temple premises by next week. Dhammakaya Temple’s former abbot Phra Dhammachayo is wanted on charges of money laundering and receiving stolen property.
A DSI source said the agency would ask the National Office of Buddhism and the Pathum Thani Provincial Monk Dean to accompany its officers during the raid so that they could urge the temple’s followers not to obstruct the officers from performing their duties.
The officers were not sure they would be able to arrest Phra Dhammachayo, as they would strictly adhere to non-violence and avoid any clashes with the temple’s followers.
The DSI revealed that the officers would meet again tomorrow to rehearse their mission so as to make sure that everything goes according to plan.
They stated that police officers would also join in the mission to collect all evidence, including video footage during the mission, and would be on guard to prevent intervention by any third party.
Pol Maj-General Chayaphon Chatchaidet, acting chief of Special Branch 4 police, said that, if asked by the DSI, the police were ready to support the mission.
Deputy police chief Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul has ordered 1,800 police from Samut Prakan, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Ang Thong, and Lop Buri to be deployed to assist the DSI mission.
Meanwhile, it was reported from Dhammakaya Temple that followers still gathered inside and every entrance to the temple was heavily guarded. The temple has also asked all media reporters to confine themselves to the information centre and that if they wanted to travel elsewhere inside the temple compound, they would have to be accompanied by a temple officer.