Investigators will compare real donations to the temple against amounts stated on receipts for tax deductions, said Khajornsak Phutthanuparp, head of the public prosecutors’ team dealing with money laundering and embezzlement linked to the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC).

Khajornsak said investigators would also look at links between the abbot and five monks, who are his close aides in charge of temple administration, to see how the temple handles financial issues, including the processing of donations.

Investigators are expected to submit additional information to prosecutors before they formally file the money-laundering case against the abbot and four alleged accomplices in court on August 11, he said.

The Anti-Money Laundering Office’s investigation into transactions had progressed but would need more time because the case involved many people, he said.

Khajornsak said donations made to the temple were in three categories – money donated by the faithful, money obtained from criminal behaviour that needed to be laundered (such as the funds siphoned from the KCUC), and money from businesspeople engaged in alleged tax evasion.