The Criminal Court for Corruption and Malfeasance Cases on Thursday rejected bail requested by five former senior officials of the National Office of Buddhism on the ground that their alleged offences were serious and that they might escape.
The five were Mr Panom Sornsilp, former director of NOB; Mrs Pornpen Kittithrangkoon, a former religious expert attached to the NOB; Mr Kaew Chidtakhob, a former religious expert attached to the Buddhism Study Division of the NOB; Mr Boonlert Sopha, former director of Buddhism Study Division and Mr Narongdet Chainet, former director of Buddhism Promotion Division.
Mr Panom, Mrs Pornpen and Mr Kaew posted cash amounting to 800,000 baht, 400,000 baht and 500,000 baht respectively to seek bail.
Three other suspects also tried to bail themselves out, but their sureties were not sufficient to meet the demand, so their requests for bail were automatically rejected.
The eight suspects were arrested on Wednesday on charges of malfeasance in office for alleged involvement in temple fund fraud.