Boss of electronics store eyed kickbacks

Another suspect wanted in connection with a temple fund embezzlement scandal was detained yesterday in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) said.

Jetsada Wongmek, 38, a construction contractor who owns an electronics store in the province, was wanted on an arrest warrant issued on Wednesday for his role in helping state officials commit malfeasance and embezzlement.

An investigation by the CSD found that Mr Jetsada had approached at least four Buddhist temples in the province in an attempt to persuade them to grant a contract to him to carry out repair and maintenance work.

He reached an agreement with several temples, in which they agreed to pay him a kickback for helping them win approval from the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) for their requests for 3 million baht each, said the CSD investigators.

Mr Jetsada’s arrest leaves just two suspects on the police wanted list. Both are at large. They are Pranom Kongpikul, a former deputy director of the NOB, who police believe has already fled the country, and Nopparat Benjawatananun, a former director of the NOB considered the prime suspect in the scandal. He is believed to be hiding in the US.

“We are intensifying our search for the remaining suspects,” Pol Lt Gen Thitiraj Nongharnpitak, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), said yesterday.

Nine others were apprehended on Wednesday during a raid on 10 locations after warrants were sought by the CounterCorruption Division and the CSD.

They were being held in police custody after their bail pleas were rejected.

They include former NOB director Phanom Sornsilp; Kaew Chittakob, director of the Ang Thong provincial Buddhism Office; Pattana Su-ammatmontri, a former Nakhon Pathom provincial Buddhism Office staff; Boonlert Sopha, director of the Lampang provincial Buddhism office; Chayapol Pongsida, a former deputy NOB chief; and Pornpen Kititharangkura.

The others are the head of the NOB’s administrative development unit; Wasawad Kittitheerasit, head of the NOB’s temple renovation and development unit; Narongdej Chainet, director of the Sing Buri provincial Buddhism Office; and Jetsada Wongmek, a construction contractor.

Earlier in May, six senior monks were arrested and defrocked in connection with the temple fund scandal. They were Phra Phrom Dilok, the former abbot of Wat Sam Phraya; his ex-secretary, Phra Atthakit Sophon; Phra Sri Khunaporn; Phra Wichit Thammaporn; Phra Khru Siriwihankan; and Phra Methee Sutthikorn.

All are being detained at Bangkok Remand Prison while the ex-Sangha Supreme Council member formerly known as Phra Phrom Methee is seeking asylum in Germany.

The NLA is now mulling changes to how temples are funded.