The former director of the National Office of Buddhism (NOB), Pol Lt Col Pongporn Pramsaneh, is defying the order shunting him to the post of inspector-general at the Prime Minister's Office, which plans to send him to the deep South.
He has written to PM's Office Minister Ormsin Chivapruck, saying that he was neither aware of nor did he agree with the transfer, Thai media reported. Mr Ormsin proposed his transfer and his successor to cabinet.
In the letter, Pol Lt Col Pongporn said the cabinet's resolution on Aug 29 appointing him an inspector-general was subject to receiving royal approval. This had not so far happened and the transfer was therefore not in effect.
He also wrote that the NOB was not under the Prime Minister's Office. The NOB is under the jurisdiction of the prime minister.
PM's Office permanent secretary Jirachai Moonthongroy confirmed on Thursday that Pol Lt Col Pongporn had not reported to the office, which would assign him to supervise the southern border provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla, Satun, and Yala.
Mr Jirachai said officials were now considering the legal aspects.
Pol Lt Col Pongporn was transferred from the Department of Investigation to the position of director of the National Office of Buddhism in February this year, when the DSI was trying to arrest Phra Dhammajayo, former abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, on charges of money-laundering, receiving stolen property and forest encroachment.
Phra Dhammajayo fled and his whereabouts remain unknown.
Later, Pol Lt Col Pongporn was behind a push for transparency in the handling of temple funds, with stories about embezzlement making headlines. An investigation into temple funding expanded nationwide, reportedly in the way that could implicate certain senior members of the Sangha Supreme Council.
On Tuesday the cabinet appointed Manas Taratjai, director-general of the Religious Affairs Department, the new NOB director. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the new director had been assigned to solve problems without stirring up conflict.
