A senior interrogator at the Department of Special Investigation who stated on his Facebook page that police would raid four more popular Bangkok temples was taken to the Crime Suppression Bureau on Tuesday to acknowledge charges brought against him.
Pisitchai Sawangwattanakorn of the DSI’s taxation crime bureau reported to Pol Maj Gen Maitri Chimcherd, CSD commander, to acknowledge charges arising from his Facebook announcement.
He was escorted to the CSD by Pol Lt Col Kornwat Panpraparkorn, deputy chief of the DSI, and Pol Maj Woranan Srilam, who is deputy spokesman.
Mr Pisit wrote on his Facebook on June 9 that police would soon raid four more Bangkok temples.
Pol Maj Gen Maitri confirmed that Mr Pisit reported to CSD investigators to hear charges. However, what charges were to be pressed could not be revealed for the time being as the CSD was waiting for the complaint being brought against him by lawyers for the National Office of Buddhism.
The CSD investigators already had case evidence about Mr Pisit’s posting.
“The four temples - Wat Pak Nam Phasi Charoen, Wat Phitchaya Yatikaram Worawiharn, Wat Bowonniwet Vihara and Wat Ratchasittharam Raworawiharn - that Mr Pisit mentioned have not yet filed complaints with the CSD,’’ said Pol Maj Gen Maitri.
After his post on Facebook, Mr Pisit was immediately shunted to the office of special case experts. The order was signed by DSI chief Paisith Wongmuang.
Earlier, about 200 police commandos from the CSD raided three temples in Bangkok on May 24 for their alleged involvement in embezzling funds meant for Buddhist activities and arrested several senior monks, including members of the Sangha Supreme Council who have since been removed from their positions.
It has been alleged they paid kickbacks that NOB officials demanded in return for funding temple development projects. Details of that side of the case have not been made public.