Public prosecutors arraigned ex-Sangha Supreme Councillors and others in court on Wednesday on charges of embezzling temple development funds and money laundering.
Those indicted included Uean Klinsalee, known as Phra Phom Dilok from Wat Sam Phraya before his arrest, and his former secretary and fellow ex-monk Somsong Atthakrit. They did not seek bail, so the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases returned them to Bangkok Remand Prison.
Also arraigned were Thongchai Sukkho, formerly Phra Phrom Sitthi and a Sangkha Supreme Councillor and abbot of Wat Saket (Golden Mount); Boonthawee Khamma, Somjit Jansri, Thoed Wongcha-um and Sangkhom Sangkhapat, former assistant abbots of the temple; and two lay women and a man who allegedly received money from Wat Saket for media production.
The court rejected their bail request, ruling that their offences were too serious due to the damage they caused to Buddhism in Thailand and said that they were liable to receive severe punishment.
They were returned to the Bangkok Remand Prison and the Central Women's Correctional Institution
