--- description: Phra Dhammachayo of the Wat Dhammakaya is wanted on charges of money laundering and the embezzlement of $14 million from a credit union title: Arrest of Thai Sect Leader Blocked by Followers image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda040226d8517464/6988985ccd1bbaaeaa701262/h_52828945.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Thailand](/tag/thailand/) ## Thailand Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Thousands of Devotees Block Thai Police From Arresting a Sect Leader by [Amanda Calvo](/author/amanda-calvo/) ## Amanda Calvo Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 17, 2016 8:22 AM CUT  Devotees meditate at Wat Phra Dhammakaya, a Buddhist temple in Pathum Thani province, Thailand, on June 16, 2016 Devotees meditate at Wat Phra Dhammakaya, a Buddhist temple in Pathum Thani province, Thailand, on June 16, 2016Narong Sangnak—EPA by [Amanda Calvo](/author/amanda-calvo/) ## Amanda Calvo Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 17, 2016 8:22 AM CUT Thai police say they will again try to arrest [Buddhist sect leader Phra Dhammajayo](http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/972869/dsi-asked-to-come-to-dhammajayo "undefined") in the next coming days after thousands of his followers foiled their attempt Thursday by [blocking the approach](http://www.wsj.com/articles/thai-police-thwarted-in-attempt-to-arrest-buddhist-sect-leader-1466078845 "undefined") to his temple. The sect leader heads an organization [described](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36545637 "undefined") as having “the character of a charismatic cult,” with intense loyalty demanded of its 10 million followers, who have flocked to the movement’s outlandish headquarters, Wat Phra Dhammakaya. Phra Dhammajayo briefly achieved international notoriety in 2012, the _Wall Street Journal_ reports, by making bizarre claims that Steve Jobs had been reincarnated as a warrior spirit and was dwelling in a heavenly palace. The 72-year-old is now wanted on charges of money laundering and the embezzlement of $14 million from a credit union — allegations he vigorously denies. For weeks, he has refused to attend court to answer the charges, the _Journal_ says, with his supporters claiming that he is medically unable to leave Wat Phra Dhammakaya. Buddhist monks are no stranger to controversy in Thailand with many scandals involving [fast living](http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/06/19/thai-buddhist-monks-traveling-by-private-jet-cause-uproar/ "undefined"), [animal trafficking](http://time.com/4355054/tiger-temple-monks-charged/ "undefined") and [rape](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28055603 "undefined") rattling the public’s perception of the country’s main religion. Much criticism has centered around Phra Dhammajayo, with scholars calling its practices [unorthodox and misleading](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36545637 "undefined"). According to the BBC, some say the sect has close political ties with former Primer Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was overthrown by the military. \[[_WSJ_](http://www.wsj.com/articles/thai-police-thwarted-in-attempt-to-arrest-buddhist-sect-leader-1466078845 "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4372749/thailand-buddhist-dhammakaya-temple-leader-arrest-phra-dhammachayo/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4372749/thailand-buddhist-dhammakaya-temple-leader-arrest-phra-dhammachayo/"},"headline":"Thousands of Devotees Block Thai Police From Arresting a Sect Leader","datePublished":"2016-06-17T08:22:14.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T22:40:33.718Z","description":"Phra Dhammajayo is wanted on charges of money laundering and embezzlement","url":"https://time.com/4372749/thailand-buddhist-dhammakaya-temple-leader-arrest-phra-dhammachayo/","keywords":["Thailand","corruption","Buddhism"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda040226d8517464/6988985ccd1bbaaeaa701262/h_52828945.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amanda Calvo","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/amanda-calvo/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda040226d8517464/6988985ccd1bbaaeaa701262/h_52828945.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Thai authorities receive search warrant to arrest Dhammakaya Temple abbot Phra Dhammachayo","caption":"Thai authorities receive search warrant to arrest Dhammakaya Temple abbot Phra Dhammachayo","creditText":"Narong Sangnak—EPA","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/thailand/","name":"Thailand"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4372749/thailand-buddhist-dhammakaya-temple-leader-arrest-phra-dhammachayo/","name":"Thousands of Devotees Block Thai Police From Arresting a Sect Leader"}}]}] ```