Saraburi: Authorities are preparing to file a lawsuit against Wat Pa Chanachai for encroaching on and illegally occupying land allocated under the Agricultural Land Reform Act. The Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) and the Department of Forestry, the aggrieved parties, are preparing to file a complaint with the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division of the police against Wat Pa Chanajai in Saraburi province for encroaching on 2,000 rai of ALRO land. They are also preparing to summon "Kru Ba Chaiwat" for questioning regarding his alleged fundraising activities involving the sale of meditation huts for 500,000 baht each.
According to Thai News Agency, Police Major General Anek Taosupap, commander of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, revealed the progress of the investigation into "Wat Pa Chanachai" in Saraburi province following complaints of land encroachment and the alleged solicitation of funds to build and sell monks' quarters for 500,000 baht each. He stated that officials from the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO) and the Department of Forestry are currently gathering evidence and information to file a formal complaint next week. Furthermore, victims who were deceived into participating in the activities, ordaining, and donating will also be filing complaints. It is believed that more victims will come forward to file complaints. Currently, the financial transaction trail of the temple, which uses multiple separate accounts, is being investigated.
Regarding the investigation, the focus will be on whether the land currently occupied belongs to the Agricultural Land Reform Office (ALRO), and who originally owned the ALRO land, and how the temple and monks came to reside there. As for land encroachment, clear evidence of encroachment has been found in two locations. There have been transactions involving the sale of land, the construction of buildings, and the sale of houses in a housing development for 500,000 baht each. The land has also been cleared, and electricity poles and prefabricated houses have been installed. ALRO considers this to be a violation of the law, constituting property damage. Another location is also ALRO land, but it's on a mountaintop. This land hasn't yet been allocated to the public for farming due to its high elevation and steep slope. However, it has been encroached upon to create the Pha Chanachai Buddhist Park and sunrise viewpoint.
A background check on "Kru Ba Chaiwat" revealed that he previously held a bachelor's degree in male nursing before becoming ordained as a monk in 2023, thus confirming his authenticity as a monk. Investigators are now preparing to summon him for questioning to ascertain the facts.
Regarding the fundraising efforts from Buddhist practitioners for the construction of monks' residences at 500,000 baht each, further investigation is needed as it may constitute fraud and deception of the public. The statements clearly indicated that payment would grant ownership of the land, when in reality it was S.P.K. (Agricultural Land Reform Office) land, thus amounting to deception and concealment of facts from the public.