US ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney on Thursday declined to comment on Thailand’s request that US authorities deport defrocked monk Wirapol Sukphol back to Thailand to face charges.
The ambassador was asked about the progress of the Department of Special Investigation’s (DSI) formal request to deport the ex-monk from the US during her visit to the Justice Ministry.
Ms Kenney said she had not yet discussed the matter with the Thai justice minister.
Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri said it was possible to seek both the ex-monk's extradition and deportion from the US.
The extradition request would probably be processed after the investigation of Mr Wirapol by Thai authorities is completed.
For now it was too soon to talk about any of the options to bring Mr Wirapol back to Thailand, Mr Chaikasem said.
Pol Col Songsak Raksaksakul, chief of the DSI’s office of foreign affairs and international cases, said the Thai consul in the US had already received written information about the revocation of Mr Wirapol’s passport.