Police chief's transfer attempt denied by Phumtham
In a significant development, the Police Commission, chaired by Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the ongoing police reshuffle process. After around 40 minutes of discussion, Mr Phumtham adjourned the meeting until Saturday.
The adjournment, according to Mr Phumtham, should not cause concern. He reiterated that the final decision about the police reshuffle rests with the Police Commission.
During the meeting, four senior officers, including Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew, submitted formal complaints about the reshuffle process. The officers argued that capable candidates, such as Pol Maj Gen Noppasin Poonsawat, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), and Pol Maj Gens Tinkorn Rangmat and Wiwat Kamchamnan, deputy commissioners of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, were being overlooked for promotion.
One key grievance was that Pol Maj Gen Noppasin had not been nominated as deputy police chief despite his qualifications. However, Mr Phumtham clarified that he has no authority to remove Kittharath, and any transfer must follow legal procedures and be justified.
Mr Phumtham emphasized that it is every officer's right to submit a petition and urged the media to verify their sources carefully in the future. He also stated that complaints about the police reshuffle only request a review of the process, which is still ongoing.
Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat stated that the petition was not an act of insubordination but a call for fairness in promotions. He emphasized that promotions should be based on merit rather than politics or personal influence.
Rumors suggest that Phumtham was preparing to move national police chief Kittharath due to controversy over a major gambling den raid in Don Muang district and complaints about the police reshuffle. However, Phumtham has dismissed these speculations, stating that he neither has the authority nor the intention to remove Kittharath.
Phumtham also emphasized that his relationship with the police chief remains cordial. He urged everyone to wait for the outcome of the review process before jumping to conclusions. The four senior police officers who filed a complaint against the police recruitment process last Saturday are not publicly named in the available information.
In conclusion, the Police Commission meeting addressed the concerns of senior officers about the ongoing police reshuffle process, with the final decision still resting with the Police Commission. The process is under review, and the public is encouraged to wait for the outcome before forming opinions.
