Dhammakaya sect denies mocking police searching for fugitive monk Phra Dhammachayo
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A controversial branch of Thai Buddhism has apparently mocked police searching for its fugitive founder by placing pillows under his blanket to resemble a human form.
Police spent a second day searching the sprawling temple complex on the outskirts of Bangkok but did not find former abbot Phra Dhammachayo.
Late on Friday, Thai police said they would end their search of the temple but continue looking for Phra Dhammachayo elsewhere.
The 72-year-old is wanted on money laundering charges but has refused to speak to police, using supporters as a human shield during previous raid attempts last year.
Photos widely circulating online showed the hospital bed where Phra Dhammachayo was previously photographed to prove he was gravely ill and could not meet authorities.
However, when the saffron blanket was pulled away, there were only pillows arranged in a human shape.
Temple officials denied it was a trick.
"As far as I know, the blanket was pulled over the pillows to avoid dust, which is a normal thing to do," Dhammakaya spokesman Phra Sanitwong Wuttiwangso said, according to Khaosod English.
However, Thailand's social media was soon buzzing with memes and sarcasm.
"You idiots, don't you know Luang Por [Phra Dhammachayo] is X-Men," one Twitter user said.
Khaosod English said it resembled "a trick straight out of Scooby Doo" and Ferris Bueller would certainly have approved.
The moment of levity came amid a drawn out search for the monk, who first faced charged in the 1990s.
At the centre of the 400-hectare temple complex is a flying saucer-shaped golden dome surrounded by space for 100,000 people to meditate.
The Dhammakaya sect is controversial for encouraging followers to become wealthy, but temple officials have denied it preys upon Thais for donations.
On Thursday 3,600 police and 900 soldiers were mobilised to prevent Dhammakaya supporters from blocking their raid.
The cost to Thai taxpayers for the two-day search is not yet known.
Topics: buddhism, religion-and-beliefs, police, law-crime-and-justice, thailand
