Wat Dhammakaya abbot Phra Dhammajayo did not go to a hospital in Ratchaburi for an examination but a doctor from that hospital came to the temple to check on him and issued a medical certificate, according to Phra Nopporn Punyachayo, assistant director of Wat Dhammakaya's communications office.
The certificate was presented to the Department of Investigation (DSI) as proof of Phra Dhammajayo's ailments and justification for him deferring a meeting he was scheduled to have with the DSI to acknowledge criminal charges.
The abbot is accused of laundering money and receiving stolen property worth 1.2 billion baht in connection with the 12-billion-baht Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative embezzlement case.
Phra Nopporn said a doctor from the army's Fort Phanurangsri Hospital in Ratchaburi paid a private visit to the abbot at the temple, examined him and issued the certificate confirming the authenticity of his illnesses.
The abbot was too sick to travel to any hospital for a check-up or treatment, the monk said. A source in the DSI said Fort Phanurangsri Hospital contacted the department to ask about the release of the medical certificate for Phra Dhammajayo.
The source said the doctor who issued the certificate was being investigated for disciplinary violations because he examined the abbot in a private capacity and was, therefore, in no position to issue the paper in the hospital's name. It was reported that the 16th Military Circle in Ratchaburi has set up a panel to look into the matter.
The DSI said earlier that the document was not deemed an official paper that could be used to back up the monk's request to defer the meeting. The department also questioned the legality of the certificate, as the doctor had signed with neither the knowledge of nor the permission from the hospital. The doctor risks having his or her medical licence revoked and facing disciplinary action.
Normally, a medical certificate is issued to a patient receiving treatment at the hospital, and the document must be endorsed by the director.
If it is proved the certificate does not comply with hospital rules, those involved in issuing the document will be held responsible, the source said.
