Police are trying to determine whether tax payments for the car were evaded.

The monk who gave the abbot the car, and who was promoted to the rank of Phrarachakhana at a young age, also allegedly arranged the Bt1-million purchase of the “Khor Mor 99” licence plate for the car from a businesswoman.

Department of Special Investigation (DSI) investigators, forensic officials and Mercedes-Benz experts yesterday inspected the car, which is on display at the temple’s museum.

The inspection initially found the car’s parts were original, suggesting it may have been imported as a whole car instead of being locally reassembled.

The probe is 80 per cent complete and should be complete by the February 20 deadline, DSI chief Colonel Paisit Wongmuang said.

Somdej Chuang has the Supreme Sangha Council’s nomination to become the next Supreme Patriarch.