The Criminal Court yesterday discharged a trial against former Wat Dhammakaya abbot Phra Thammachayo on embezzlement charges at the request of public prosecutors after the influential monk gave more than Bt950 million to the temple.

The decision has resulted in three other indictments against the monk and several people being ceased permanently, said Office of the Attorney-General spokesman Atthaphol Yaisawang.

The trial, which saw the indictment of the monk and close aide Thaworn Phromthaworn, began in October 1999 on two counts of embezzlement.

After more than 100 sessions, the trial was in its final phase, with only defence witnesses testifying.

According to the indictment, the monk bought a plot of land in Phichit with Bt6.2 million donated to the temple and paid Bt29.8 million to buy another two plots in the province and Phetchabun. Thaworn's name was used in title deeds as owner of the three

plots.

Chief prosecutor Winyoo Winyukul said the request for the trial to be discharged was made because Phra Thammachayo had agreed to provide Buddhist sermons and teachings in a way according to mainstream Buddhist doctrines, as instructed by the Supreme Sangha Council and His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch.

He said the monk had also given more than Bt959 million to the temple on

several occasions through various donations.

Winyoo cited "the need not to create further division among the public in the current political situation" and "the risk of possibly creating conflicts between Buddhists both within the country and elsewhere" as reasons to make the request.

The three separate indictments, which were being considered by prosecutors, concerned three separate acts by the monk and other people.

In two cases, the monk and many people allegedly bought several plots with a total of Bt940 million donated to the temple and in the other case the monk with five other people allegedly forged official documents.

Law lecturer Preecha Suwannathat later commented that the prosecutors' explanation for why the trial was discharged were not clear to him and called on them to clarify their reasoning.

He added: "It has to be stated more clearly whether the trial has been dropped over legal technicalities or out of political motives."

Wat Dhammakaya was used as a venue to hold a pro-government mass gathering of officials of local administrative bodies on July 17-18, during which caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a speech.

Kesinee Tangkhiew

The Nation