Police on Tuesday upped the pressure on embattled former abbot Phra Dhammajayo by posting a summons at Wat Phra Dhammakaya demanding he report to authorities and answer charges of alleged forest encroachment by Friday.
Pol Maj Gen Worapong Thongpaiboon, acting commander of the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Division, went to the temple in Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang district to serve the wanted monk with the summons.
When asked to leave it at the temple's public relations office at Gate 7, the officer posted the summons there and had it photographed as evidence.
It demands Phra Dhammajayo acknowledge charges in connection with alleged encroachment on forest land in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district.
The move follows the Sikhiu Provincial Court's approval of a warrant for his arrest for alleged forest encroachment by the temple's World Peace Valley Meditation Centre at Khao Yai National Park.
The Loei Provincial Court has also granted a warrant for his arrest after a police probe found Wat Dhammakaya's meditation facility in Loei's Phu Rua district was built on a forest reserve during Phra Dhammajayo's time as abbot.
Meanwhile, the Department of Special Investigation on Tuesday sent a letter to the National Office of Buddhism and the chiefs of two monastic panels asking them to hand Phra Dhammajayo over to authorities.
DSI director-general Paisit Wongmuang said the office and the heads of the Pathum Thani provincial monastic panel and the central monastic committee were officially informed that Phra Dhammajayo was wanted for alleged money laundering and receiving stolen property. The two monastic chiefs are being urged to persuade the monk to give himself up or bring him in to face charges, he said.
However, if they fail to do so and authorities are forced to raid Wat Phra Dhammakaya, they are required to accompany the arrest team.
The deadline for the ex-abbot to turn himself in to face charges in connection with the multi-billion-baht Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC) embezzlement scandal expires today.
Pol Col Paisit said the DSI has also made inquiries into the monk's whereabouts with Wat Phra Dhammakaya's acting abbot.
According to the DSI chief, the letter was addressed to "the monk acting for the abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya", because it is not clear whether Phra Thattachivo, the deputy abbot, or Phra Sutham Thammo, a senior monk, serves as the acting abbot.
He said the letter was addressed that way to prevent a legal problem. If Phra Dhammajayo is in the temple, the acting abbot is required to hand him over to the DSI.
The temple's acting abbot is considered a state officer and will be in violation of Section 157 of the Criminal Code for dereliction of duty and Section 189 if he provides shelter for a suspect, said the DSI chief.
Deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said police will ask for a warrant to search Wat Phra Dhammakaya if the monk fails to surrender by the deadline.