Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Ananda Asvabhokhin in Money Laundering Case Linked to Dhammakaya Temple; Doctor Claims Critical Illness with Risk of Death
Court issues arrest warrant for real estate developer Ananda Asvabhokhin in a money laundering case linked to Dhammakaya Temple, though his doctors claim he is critically ill with kidney failure and at risk of death if moved from hospital c
A court has issued an arrest warrant for Ananda Asvabhokhin, a prominent real estate developer, in a money laundering case connected to Dhammakaya Temple since March 2025. Medical doctors have argued he is critically ill with a risk of death if removed from a sterile hospital environment. On June 29, 2025, the Supreme Prosecutor ordered charges to be filed against Asvabhokhin for conspiracy and money laundering offenses under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 1999 (sections 5, 9, 60) and the 2015 amendment (section 10). The charges stem from an investigation by the Special Cases Investigation Division related to embezzlement at Khlong Jarn Credit Union Cooperative. Lawyer Khetsmark Kanbai, representing victims in the money laundering case, submitted a petition to the Special Prosecutor's Office to accelerate legal proceedings against those involved in the money laundering case with Dhammakaya Temple and Venerable Thammacho (Luang Pu Dhammachayo) and associates.
According to reports from the Special Cases Investigation Division, prosecutors requested the arrest warrant in March 2025 because Asvabhokhin failed to appear for prosecution. The court approved the warrant on March 18. It is believed Asvabhokhin is currently outside Thailand, and investigators are actively pursuing his whereabouts.
Previously, the Special Prosecutor's Office Unit 4 had scheduled Asvabhokhin to appear on April 2, 2567 (2024) for prosecution filing. However, he failed to appear, requesting postponement citing illness and providing medical documentation. The hearing was rescheduled to May 24 and again to June 24 for the same health reasons.
Upon investigation, the Special Cases Investigation Division questioned the treating physician about Asvabhokhin's condition. Medical findings revealed he has end-stage kidney failure, had kidney transplant surgery in Australia, but the transplanted kidney failed completely (kidney rejection). As a result, he requires dialysis once weekly for life until a second kidney transplant can be performed. Currently, transplant is not possible due to serious complications including acute heart failure, brain hemorrhage, and immune deficiency. Medical authorities stated moving him from the sterile hospital environment could cause infection and death, and he requires specialized medical care with modern equipment. He remains a critically ill patient at constant risk of death if moved from his current care setting.
