The source was referring to Phra Palat Sittiwat, the abbot of Wat Pai Lorm. The classic car, registered in his name, is worth more than Bt4 million.

Phra Palat Sittiwat, however, dismissed any claim of irregularities. Regarding the DSI question about why his vehicle was identified as a Jaguar in the import and vehicle-registration documents, but as a Panther in the assembly documents, he said the body was of the Panther brand but the engine was from Jaguar.

Supapatpoj Nitisasathorn, a legal adviser to the Pai Lorm temple, meanwhile, questioned why the DSI had decided to reinvestigate the case involving the abbot’s vehicle.

“The DSI had already examined the vehicle in 2013,” he said.

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He added that he would tell the DSI on Monday that if another examination were needed, officials should come to the temple to do this.

“Judging by the vehicle’s condition and engine, it’s not convenient to send it to the DSI compound,” Supapatpoj said.

The DSI source acknowledged that the DSI had examined Phra Palat Sittiwat’s vehicle in 2013 but the monk was told even then that he needed to provide additional information.

“But he has not submitted any further documents,” the source said.

He added that in addition to the different car brands in the documents, the DSI noticed that documents showed auto parts were imported from the United States and Singapore around the same time via the same agent.

“We suspect these auto parts might have in fact been imported in the same lot,” this source said.

Justice Minister General Paiboon Koomchaya dismissed a suggestion that the DSI was singling out Phra Palat Sittiwat.

“It’s just that a complainant has directly lodged a complaint against him,” he said.

He added that the DSI would also investigate all other luxury vehicles that were declared as assembled in Thailand.

Imported cars are subject to a higher tax rate than vehicles assembled locally.

Another high-profile luxury-car scandal involves the acting Supreme Patriarch, Somdej Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn (Somdej Chuang), the abbot of Paknam Temple.

The DSI is investigating this case, too.