Luang Por
Prompted by the criticism and public outcry, in January 1999 the Sangha Supreme Council started an investigation into the temple, led by , Chief of the Greater Bangkok Region. One of the accusations Luang Por Ñanavaro investigated was that Luang Por Dhammajayo had moved land donated to the temple to his own name. The temple denied this, stating that it was the donors' intention to give the land to the abbot, and not the temple. Eventually the Sangha Council declared that Wat Phra Dhammakaya and Luang Por Dhammajayo had not committed any serious offenses against monastic discipline ("Vinaya") that were cause for defrocking (removal from monkhood) but instead practical directives were given for the temple to improve itself. Despite this, the , the secular part of the government in charge, charged Luang Por Dhammajayo with embezzlement and removed him from his post as abbot. This period of intense media attention had effects on the temple's fundraising, but the temple continued to organize projects, ceremonies and other events.