BANGKOK – The Department of Special Investigation has clarified the case involving former Wat Phra Dhammakaya abbot Phra Dhammachayo. The agency said the order to end the criminal case followed legal procedure and does not affect the civil side of the matter.
At the same time, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, or AMLO, is still moving forward with asset seizure and freezing measures tied to the temple, with 1.458 billion baht to be returned to the injured parties.
On March 27, 2026, DSI released a statement about the money laundering case linked to Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative. The agency explained that the case had already reached the Supreme Court for some defendants, while arrest warrants remained active for suspects who fled.
DSI said officers continued tracking those suspects both in Thailand and abroad until the statute of limitations expired. Because of that, prosecutors later ordered the criminal case against the fugitive suspect to be closed.
Charges Expire Against Former Abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya
The statement came after reports on social media said public prosecutors had sent a letter to DSI ordering the end of legal action against Phra Dhammachayo, the former abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
DSI said the issue goes back to 2013, when it took on a criminal investigation involving alleged fraud at Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative. The reported offenses took place from 2009 to 2011.
The case was accepted as a special case, and investigators pursued charges against Supachai Srisuppa-aksorn, the cooperative’s chairman and manager, along with other related suspects.
The charges involved property offenses under the Criminal Code and public fraud. The damage to cooperative members exceeded 13 billion baht.
Later, investigators expanded the probe and traced financial transfers. They found that Phra Dhammachayo and people linked to him had received transfers from the cooperative without a legal basis, worth about 1.458 billion baht in total. As a result, DSI separated that part of the case and handled it as Special Case No. 27/2016.
After completing its investigation, DSI recommended indicting five suspects and sent the file to prosecutors at the Office of Special Litigation. The case was then prepared for court. Phra Dhammachayo was among those named.
1.458 billion Baht Returned to Klongchan Credit Union
However, he did not report to investigators to acknowledge the charges, and DSI said his behavior showed he was avoiding arrest. Because of that, investigators asked the Criminal Court to issue a warrant.
From that point on, DSI assigned its surveillance and intelligence units to track him down. The agency also coordinated with the Royal Thai Police for domestic arrest efforts. In addition, officials worked with Interpol to issue a Red Notice for international tracking.
As for Supachai and others charged in the money laundering case, prosecutors have already brought the case to court. The Supreme Court has now issued a final ruling confirming that they committed the offenses.
On the civil side, Wat Phra Dhammakaya has already returned 1.458 billion baht to Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative for the benefit of the victims. Still, the legal process over related assets has not ended.
DSI explained that the offenses in this case took place between 2009 and 2011. Under Section 95 of the Criminal Code, the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution in money laundering cases is 15 years.
Prosecutors concluded that for suspects who remained fugitives, the right to bring criminal charges had expired. They then informed DSI to close the criminal case in line with the law.
Even so, DSI stressed that it had continuously worked with local and international agencies to pursue suspects under arrest warrants. The agency also said the prosecutor’s order applies only to the criminal case and does not cancel civil asset actions.
Meanwhile, AMLO still handles the civil measures involving the seizure and freezing of assets. Those actions are ongoing, and the matter remains under court review so the assets can be returned to Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative as the injured party.
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