CCD broadens temple probe

The Counter-Corruption Division (CCD) plans to further trace back to 2007 in a new phase of the probe into the temple funds embezzlement scandal, after having so far tracked the money trail of the temples thought to be involved back to 2012.

The next phase of the investigation will be led by the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) and assisted by the CCD and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), said CCD chief Kamol Rianracha.

The core task in the third phase of the probe is to inspect the annual budget spent by the NOB from 2007, Pol Maj Gen Kamol said.

“Most of the suspects who are current and former civil servants with the NOB have already been identified in the past phases of the investigation. Only a few more are still being investigated,” he said.

Those already named as suspects in the investigation may face additional probes as some of them are believed to have been involved in more than one embezzlement case, he said.

Pol Maj Gen Kamol expressed his confidence in the NOB’s role in the third phase probe, saying he was confident in the current chief and his ability to prevent corrupt NOB officials from meddling with evidence.

He said he expects to see various laws invoked to speed up the investigation to prevent suspects from funneling money they have earned dishonestly to somewhere else, which will complicate and hinder investigations.

One of the nine suspects identified previously in the investigation and summoned to meet investigators, Natthawadi Tan-tayawisarasut, a former NOB civil servant, had previously reported herself to the CCD to answer money laundering charges, Pol Maj Gen Kamol said.

Despite her denial of any wrongdoing, investigators have sufficient evidence to pursue legal action against the suspect, he said.

Pol Lt Co Phongphon Phramsane, the NOB director, said he yesterday handed evidence and information obtained in the past phases of the investigation to the CCD.

He declined to go into detail about the evidence and information, citing the need to maintain confidentiality during the ongoing investigation.

Former NOB director Nopparat Benjawatananun, a prime suspect in the scandal, whose house in Taling Chan district of Bangkok was raided on Wednesday, is still on the run, Pol Maj Gen Kamol said. Three safes were seized for inspection.