“The National Buddhism Office and the Sangha Supreme Council are in the process of taking monastic action,” Prayut said yesterday.

He did not elaborate on what measures the two organisations would take.

Phra Dhammachayo lost his high monastic rank several days ago, but he has yet to be defrocked.

The controversial honorary abbot of Dhammakaya Temple is facing arrest warrants for alleged money laundering and accepting stolen items.

It was found that he received a huge sum of money from Supachai Srisupa-aksorn, the former head of the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative. Supachai has been sentenced to jail for embezzlement for stealing members’ life savings, but Phra Dhammachayo has never answered to charges related to the scandal.

Last month, Prayut in his capacity as chief of the National Council for Peace and Order invoked Article 44 of the interim charter to declare Dhammakaya Temple a special controlled area. The move was designed to pave the way for the search to bring the fugitive monk to justice.

As of press time, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officials were preparing to conduct another search at the huge temple compound.

The Boonraksa building in the temple caught the attention of the DSI recently as aerial pictures showed big oil tanks and canals had suddenly emerged around it.

“We will assess the situation and plan another search at this building,” DSI chief Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang said.

Phra Channarong Uttamo of Dhammakaya Temple said in a press conference that oil tanks seen in the aerial pictures were put there to facilitate nets to block hot wind and dust.

“We have cooperated with authorities. With our cooperation, officials have already thoroughly searched Zones A and B at our temple,” he said.

Phra Maha Tossaporn, of the temple, said earthen dykes were placed near the Boonraksa Building because temple followers did not want outsiders to enter the zone. “But we don’t know how water comes to nearby areas and also the temple,” he said.

Sompong Noimai, a farmer living near the temple, lamented that his farm had been flooded ever since temple bosses suddenly adjusted its landscape. “Now, my Fragrant Panda farm is under one metre of water. If the situation drags on, I will lose my produce,” he said.

In a related development, more than 10 figures associated with the temple reported to the DSI yesterday after facing summonses.

One of them, Wuttisarn Panaree, denied claims he had mobilised people to obstruct DSI operations at the temple, saying “I’m just a co-ordinator”.

He said DSI officials had barred him from entering the temple compound and giving any interviews that might spur followers to any form of resistance.

The DSI has summonsed at least 164 people related to the temple stand-off.