Phra Dhammajayo, the controversial former abbot of Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani province, is now a free man after public prosecutors dropped money laundering charges against him in connection with the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative case, due to the expiry of the statute of limitations.
On March 20, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) informed complainants that special case prosecutors had ordered an end to litigation against Phra Dhammajayo and his associates, who were accused of money laundering and receiving stolen property.
The once influential monk commanded the respect and loyalty of tens of thousands of disciples, including senior government officials, politicians and wealthy businessmen.
He has evaded arrest for more than a decade, since being implicated in the alleged mismanagement of Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative funds by its former president, Suphachai Srisuphaaksorn.
The case, implicating Phra Dhammajayo and the cooperative’s management led by Suphachai, who also served as the temple’s treasurer, began in 2013 when the DSI launched a probe into alleged fund mismanagement.
The investigation followed complaints from cooperative members who said they were unable to withdraw their investments.
Tracing the money trail, the DSI found that Suphachai had allegedly issued several cheques benefiting the temple and its former abbot.
In 2015, the DSI estimated that the damage to the cooperative, allegedly caused by Suphachai, amounted to about 1.4 billion baht.
This led to money laundering and receiving stolen property charges being filed against Phra Dhammajayo.
Between March and May 2016, the DSI issued summonses for Phra Dhammajayo to acknowledge the charges, but the temple declined on his behalf, citing serious illness that prevented him from walking.
On May 14 of that year, the DSI obtained a Criminal Court arrest warrant after he failed to respond to the summonses.
In June, DSI officials attempted to enter the temple but were blocked by a human shield and forced to retreat.
In February 2017, the military government invoked Section 44 of an executive order to declare Dhammakaya Temple a “special controlled area,” allowing police, DSI officials and soldiers to search for the elusive former abbot. The operation lasted more than 20 days but failed to locate him.
An order was later issued to defrock Dhammajayo of his titles and ranks. He is now a layman under his birth name, Chaiyaboon Sudhipol.
Chaiyaboon has since disappeared without a trace, amid rumours that he may have fled abroad.
On March 20 this year, the DSI informed victims in writing that special prosecutors had dropped all charges against the former abbot.
