10/24/2008By Greg Mellen, Staff writer
Long Beach Press Telegram (California, USA)LONG BEACH - The leader of a Cambodian temple remained jailed indefinitely without bail on a contempt of court charge Friday after continuing to defy a judge's order to turn over financial documents to a court-appointed receiver.
Judge Joseph Di Loreto ordered Siphann Tith to remain in custody, extending a jail term he imposed Monday.
Since August, Tith has faced a contempt complaint for his failure to produce financial information about the temple, its $4 million in assets and more than $400,000 in cash and deposits that are unaccounted for.
Tith appeared in Di Loreto's court Friday in a jail-issued blue jumpsuit and shackled.
As he had done Monday, Tith said he did not possess the documents nor had the authority to divulge them. Tith said only the temple's council of elders could approve release of the documents. He refused to name any other members of the mysterious group, although he did admit he was one of the elders.
Tith and his supporters, many who went to court Friday to show report for the embattled temple leader, have been embroiled in a conflict that dates back to January when a dissident group supported by temple monks, staged an election for a new board of directors for the nonprofit agency that runs the temple.
In a disputed election, a new board of directors was elected in January.
The existing board invalidated the results, claiming the election was not in keeping with bylaws and was fraudulent.
While the sides worked on the process for a new election, Di Loreto ordered financial control of the temple be given to receiver David Pasternak.
The temple's existing board of directors dissolved the temple organization and divested all assets to the new organization called Wat Khmer Vipassanaram.
A central figure in that process, John Ramirez, is also facing a contempt of court complaint. He appeared in court Friday and engaged in about two hours of circuitous testimony in which he claimed not to possess any financial records of the temple nor know the identity of its elders.
Ramirez, also known as Johnny Rhondo, is the leader, and only member, of the Church of the Revelation based in a post office box in Orange. He is assisting the new organization in its attempt to become a religious nonprofit as a charter member of his church.
Ramirez was ordered by the court to return Nov. 17 with certain bank documents he does possess. Tith will return to court Monday where he will again be asked to produce the required financial records.
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