THE confrontation between the Department of Special Investigation and lawyers for influential Dhammakaya Temple abbot Phra Dhammachayo has worsened, with the DSI due today to review its plan to serve the abbot with charges of collusion in connection with alleged money laundering. It had planned to do that outside the DSI office.

The showdown has been marked by accusations and counter-accusations on both sides after the abbot adamantly refused to leave the temple compound to hear the latest charges against him.

DSI chief Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang yesterday asked a lawyer representing the abbot, who claimed to be too ill to travel to hear the charges at the DSI office, to submit more complete medical records to substantiate the health claim and submit a letter of power of attorney.

Earlier, the lawyer, along with two doctors, submitted documents to the DSI but they were incomplete, Paisit said.

He said the DSI would meet today with a prosecutor to decide whether it was necessary to serve the charges to the monk at the temple.

In addition to the collusion charges, the abbot faces a related charge of receiving ill-gotten gains.

The popular temple’s followers have filed a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission accusing the DSI of abusing its authority while taking legal action against the abbot.

The DSI chief denied the |allegation but said people had the right to lodge the complaint.

Samphan Sermcheep, Phra Dhammachayo’s lawyer, said he brought the two doctors and medical documents relating to the monk to back up the illness claim.

He insisted his client had no intention to flee so the DSI could serve the charges at the temple or bring doctors to check his health, which journalists could observe.

He said the monk stayed in a “clean room” in the temple, which was the equivalent of him receiving treatment in a hospital, as there were doctors to take care of him.

However, the temple has refused to release photos with a full view of the monk’s health condition. Only pictures showing one of his legs was made available. The lawyer said it was a patient’s right to do that.

He dismissed the rumour that Phra Dhammachayo had fled to another country, saying the monk was still at the temple, as he wished to pass away there.

Samphan said there were many groups of Dhammakaya followers, so he couldn’t say for sure if the temple was behind the call for the NACC to probe the DSI for alleged abuse of authority.

He said DSI officials would be safe inside the temple but admitted that followers outside the premises could not be controlled.

Samphan said if the DSI asked a court to issue an arrest warrant for Phra Dhammachayo, he would object to it on the ground that the monk was ill and had no intention of fleeing.

Meanwhile, a group of 890 Phuket residents lodged a complaint with the provincial authority yesterday to oppose a local movement against the DSI’s legal action in the Phra Dhammachayo case.

Somchai Yeesan, a leader of the group, said some Phuket residents had misrepresented the southern province in their move against the DSI. He said his group wanted to support the DSI action against the controversial abbot.

Earlier, the group set up desks at a provincial centre to receive |signatures to support the action, while followers of the temple reportedly travelled to Bangkok.

Another group calling themselves “disciples of Dhammakaya Temple” said in a statement that DSI officials had already interviewed the abbot at the temple and submitted an investigation report to the public prosecutor, but there was no decision to indict the abbot.

As a result, it said the DSI started another investigation into the same issue and this time filed charges in relation to money-laundering and receiving stolen items.

This group said the DSI actions were redundant and against the double jeopardy principle, so the agency should itself face charges in accordance with sections 157 and 200 of the Criminal Code.