Police chief: corrupt monks won’t be spared

Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda insists that anyone who are found to commit crimes would not be spared even they are monks.

Comment from Pol Gen Chakthip came after the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) lodged complaint with the Counter Corruption Police Division against five senior monks–three of them are members of the Sangha Supreme Council–for alleged embezzlement of fund to support Phra Pariyattidhamma Schools.

Pol Gen Chakthip made clear that the police would deal with the case according to the law and was confidence that police had sufficient evidence to indict the accused.

He also assured that the police were ready to maintain public order should there be any movement from disciples and followers of the accused monks.

The law does not forbid the police from arresting monks, especially bad monks, he said.

Meanwhile, Phra Dharma Kitti Methi, the chairman of the Buddhism Protection Center of Thailand, stated that he believes Pol Lt Col Pongporn Pramsaneh, the NOB chief, had only part of the details when he filed the complaints against the monks. As such there were misinterpretations on the handling of monastic funds.

According to the monk, once the funds are received from the government, it was the prerogative of the Sangha Supreme Council to allocate them for activities they deem necessary.

Phra Dharma Kitti Methi admitted that the allegation against the senior monks could stir up dissatisfactions among some Buddhists, especially disciples of the senior monks.