The Department of Special Investigation has filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division against Ong-art Thamnitha, the spokesman for Wat Phra Dhammakaya's disciples, accusing him of inciting unrest.
In the complaint filed on Tuesday by Pol Maj Gen Woranan Srilam, the DSI spokesman, Mr Ong-art is alleged to have made remarks which could be deemed inciting unrest in violation of Section 116 (2) of the Criminal Code.
Mr Ong-art made the comments at a media briefing at the temple in Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang district on Sunday. He said the temple and its former abbot had been treated unfairly and there were signs indicating violence would break out between state authorities and the institution of Buddhism.
He was speaking ahead of a police and the DSI meeting on Monday to discuss a plan to arrest Phra Dhammajayo, the temple's former abbot.
Early on Tuesday, police chief Gen Chakthip Chaijinda ordered police to temporarily stop giving media interviews in connection with Wat Phra Dhammakaya and its former abbot, according to deputy police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul.
This was confirmed by Pol Maj Gen Chayapol Chatchaidej, acting chief of Special Branch Police Division 4, who would say no more than that police were ready to support the DSI in an operation to arrest Phra Dhammajayo.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he had issued the instruction that police should say little about what they planned to do about the errant monk.
All officials had been told to strictly abide by the law regarding summonses and arrest and search warrants, he said.
A lawyer for Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Thatchanon Pornbaiyok, on Tuesday morning petitioned the Criminal Court to revoke a search warrant for Wat Phra Dhammakaya he believed to have been issued to the DSI.
Mr Thatchanon said the temple was exercising its right to file the request after learning from media reports that the search warrant had been approved. He left the court immediately after filing the submission.
The court later rejected the application, saying there was no reason to revoke the search warrant.
Three court warrants have been issued for Phra Dhammajayo's arrest - two for alleged forest encroachent by the temple's mediation centres in Loei and Nakhon Ratchasima, and a third for alleged laundering of hundreds of millions of baht and receiving stolen property in relation to the multi-billion baht embezzlement of the Kongchan Credit Union Cooperative by its now imprisoned former chairman.
The senior monk's followers have for months repeatedly said he is too ill to answer the summonses, and prevented an attempt to arrest him at the temple.
Police on Tuesday morning removed large concrete piles that had been laid on a road alongside the temple overnight, blocking part of the road. Local motorists suffered from road spikes on a road leading to the temple. Monks also gathered at gate No. 6, seated on rows of chairs, chanting and blocking the entrance.
Lawyer Thatchanon Pornbaiyok submits a petition at the Criminal Court on Tuesday, asking unsuccessfully that it revoke a warrant issued to the DSI to search Wat Phra Dhammakaya. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)
