Thailand's Corrupt Dhammakaya Temple Monks Case Continues by Phairath Khampha 29 Februuary 2000 Phra Prommolee removed from post of regional chief - Unanimous Sangha decision on sacking Phra Prommolee was dismissed as chief of Thailand's 1st Monastic Region for his failure to take serious action on the Wat Dhammakaya controversy. Deputy Education Minister Vichai Tansiri said 14 members of the Sangha Council agreed unanimously at a meeting on February 10, 2000 to sack Phra Prommolee for twice disregarding the council's rulings on a monastic case against Wat Dhammakaya. The senior monk's dismissal took effect when the Supreme Patriarch signed the council's order, he said. Mr Vichai said his removal had been proposed by the Religious Affairs Department and Somdej Phra Maha Thirajarn, chief of the Central Monastic Region. The decision automatically removed Phra Prommolee from the position of chairman of the Sangha Council's initial probe team into Wat Dhammakaya activities. Before the session considered his proposed dismissal, Phra Prommolee as a member of the Sangha Council had been asked to leave the room. Phra Prommolee, as head of the initial investigation had disregarded the Sangha Council's August 16, 1999, and October 19, 1999, rulings that the handling of a case against Wat Dhammakaya by the monastic court must continue. The senior monk had claimed that the case was closed since ecclesiastical charges filed by two laymen against the temple had been dropped. Mr Vichai said Pathum Thani chief monk Phra Sumethaporn could continue with the process to summon Phra Dhammachayo, the suspended venal abbot of Wat Dhammakaya, and venal acting temple abbot Phra Thattacheevo to acknowledge Dharma discipline violation charges against them pending the appointment of the new 1st Monastic Region chief.