7 more temples face prosecution over embezzlement

>> At least seven temples in Bangkok are likely facing prosecution in the latest round of investigations into state-fund embezzlement, according to the police Counter-Corruption Division (CCD).

PM’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, meanwhile, said disciplinary measures have been ordered or are being ordered against the senior and middle-rank officials complicit in the crimes.

Known as the “change money” scandal, the CCD has revealed the third and latest round of alleged embezzlement involves 10 temples in Bangkok accused of pocketing at least 70 million baht of state funds intended for the teaching of Buddhism.

Three of the temples are currently under investigation after the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) director Pongporn Pramsaneh filed a complaint against the temples with the commissioner earlier.

The NOB has not yet wrapped up its probe into seven other temples subject to similar accusations. In the third round of embezzlement cases, nine officials have been implicated, including five already charged in earlier rounds. The other four are laypersons and a monk, according to CCD chief Kamol Rienracha.

On Thursday, Pol Maj Gen Kamol said Pol Lt Col Pongporn is due to meet the CCD to lodge a complaint against the seven other temples.

In the first and second rounds of the investigation, authorities found that NOB officials allegedly granted state funds to temples to carry out maintenance jobs. However, the recipient temples wired most of the money back to the officials’ private bank accounts.

With the temples teaching Buddhism, the same method of embezzlement was allegedly adopted.

In February, Phanom Sornsilp, the NOB ex-director, turned up at the CCD after being summonsed to acknowledge the charges relating to the mishandling of funds allocated to three Buddhist temples for maintenance in the 2015 fiscal year.

A source close to the investigation said Mr Phanom denied the charges and would be defending himself in court.

Meanwhile, Mr Suwaphan said some state officials embroiled in the scandal had been ruled guilty by the disciplinary investigation panel and subsequently dismissed. The NOB has been working closely with the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission and the CCD to examine the money trails of the suspects.

The investigation panel has been examining evidence gathered by the fact-finding teams, he added.

Mr Suwaphan said more than 300 complaints have been submitted to the authorities related to the misuse of temple funds.