Police bid to nab ex-monk hits snag
The return of fugitive former monk Phra Phrom Methee to Thailand to face questioning over his involvement in the temple fund embezzlement scandal, will probably take longer than expected, according to a high-ranking source who asked not to be named.
The Crime Suppression Division, which is in charge of the embezzlement case, has not been contacted by national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda who heads a police team sent to Germany to where the former monk was yesterday confirmed to have been detained upon arrival on Saturday, another source said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said yesterday the Thai team in Germany has not yet seen the former monk.
The fugitive told German authorities he did not want to meet them, he said.
German authorities need about two months to investigate the facts surrounding the case but Thailand requested Germany process the former monk’s return within three days, Gen Prawit said.
Pol Gen Chakthip’s team had booked tickets on Thai Airways flight TG921 which was scheduled to leave Frankfurt this afternoon and arrive in Thailand tomorrow morning. However, the team might have to postpone their return.
Despite the source saying no word had been received from Pol Gen Chakthip, Gen Prawit dismissed media reports that the former assistant abbot of Wat Samphanthawong had sought asylum in Germany.
However, earlier in the day, a source in the Chakthip-led team was quoted by most Thai-language media as saying that the former assistant abbot, whose lay name is Chamnong Iamintra, submitted an asylum application immediately after disembarking at Frankfurt airport.