Phra Dhammchayo, the honorary abbot of Dhammakaya Temple, is facing arrest warrants for money laundering.

NCYBAT chairman Somporn Thepsittha, who also heads the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) committee on religions, arts, culture and tourism, said yesterday that the NCYBAT had submitted a petition to the Supreme Patriarch asking him to consider defrocking Phra Dhammachayo.

The current Supreme Patriarch, Somdet Phra Ariyawongsakhatayan (Ambhorn Ambharo), is the successor to Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Sangharaja, who passed away in 2013.

The NCYBAT believes Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Sangharaja had recommended in a letter that Phra Dhammachayo be defrocked.

In addition to the criminal charges, Phra Dhammachayo has been accused of amassing wealth, which Buddhist monks are not supposed to do.

Authorities have been unable apprehend Phra Dhammachayo to face legal proceedings as his supporters have thwarted operations to arrest him. The monk’s representatives claimed that his health was so poor he could not leave the temple and when officials showed up at the temple to arrest him, they were blocked by his supporters.

Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang yesterday refused to comment on when authorities would raid Dhammakaya Temple to arrest Phra Dhammachayo. He only confirmed that aerial pictures showed parts of Dhammakaya Temple that might have encroached on public land and blocked a public waterway.

Meanwhile, a source at the Justice Ministry said Deputy National Police Commissioner General Dejnarong Sutticharnbancha had been assigned to lead the operation to arrest Phra Dhammachayo.

“Soldiers from Army Area 1 will be deployed to prevent the masses from entering Dhammakaya Temple, while police will try to bring followers of the temple not involved in alleged legal offences out of the temple compound.”

The DSI and forensic scientists would then search the temple and gather evidence, the source added.

“To stage this operation, it may be necessary to declare the Dhammakaya Temple a special control area,” the source said.