Police chief Gen Chakthip Chaijinda was in Europe this week to visit an international arms fair, not to try to pursue extradition of a monk allegedly involved in the temple fund embezzlement case, according to a deputy police spokesman.
Pol Col Krissana Pattanacharoen said on Saturday Pol Gen Chakthip left for France on Sunday night by the invitation of French police to attend the exhibition.
“The police chief did not go to Germany to seek the extradition of Phra Phrom Methee, former assistant abbot of Wat Samphanthawong and a suspect on money-laundering charges in the temple funds embezzlement case,” he said.
He did not reveal the name of the exhibition but public records showed Eurosatory, an arms fair, was held in Paris from June 11-15.
Pol Col Krissana was responding to reports his boss was in Europe again to ask Interpol to talk to Germany after his trip last week failed to convince the Germans to return the fugitive suspect. They drew criticisms the police was squandering taxpayers' money on a futile mission.
Pol Gen Chakthip allegedly returned to Bangkok on Friday afternoon.
