Two committees to address temple scandal

BANGKOK, June 25 (TNA) – Thailand’s National Office of Buddhism (ONAB) formed two committees to probe corrupt activities pertaining to the temple maintenance funds. ONAB director Pol Lt Col Pongporn Pramsaneh said one committee will conduct investigations into the corruption involving office’s officials while the other will examine money movement records of each temple to see if there are any other irregular activities. He said the office has not yet discovered more suspects in the embezzlement case. But, if the ONAB does so, the information will be forwarded to the police Counter Crime Division immediately. There have so far been four state officials and 12 temples suspected of having got involved in the fund embezzlement. Pol Lt Col Pongporn added that he has asked all monks nationwide to take a stance against corrupt practices. He suggested them refrain from paying money taken from the funds back to anyone but instead, reported such a “change money” request to the ONAB. (TNA)