Four other suspects also face charges in the case.

The postponement was necessary because an additional investigation requested by prosecutors was not finished, Office of Attorney-General (OAG) spokesman Somnuek Siangkong said yesterday. He declined to elaborate on the details of the additional investigation.

Somneuk said a working team, led by the OAG’s Department of Special Litigation deputy chief Chatpong Jirapanthu, had previously designated July 13 as the date to render a decision on indictments.

However, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) was supposed to report the results of the additional investigation on August 11, causing the delay.

Former KCUC finance officer Saranya Manmad and former vice president Thongpin Kanlorm, who are also suspects in the case, presented themselves to hear the indictment decision yesterday but heard instead that prosecutors were still waiting for additional information.

Prosecutors have found that there are many complicated documents involved in the high-profile case, which had affected many victims, prompting them to take a thorough approach to ensure justice for all sides, Somneuk said.

He added that the decision on indictments could be postponed again because the statute of limitations extended for years.

The case’s first defendant, former KUCU chief executive Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, has already been convicted and jailed in a related case.

The DSI has pursued money-laundering charges against Supachai, Saranya and Thongpin, while Phra Dhammachayo and the fourth suspect, Sasithorn Chokprasit, are both accused of money laundering and receiving ill-gotten gains. If convicted of both offences, the last two could face up to 10 years in jail and a fine up to Bt200,000.