Permpoon Puengprasit has been transferred from the position of deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to to the post of deputy director-general of the Department of Probation, a source said on Tuesday.
The transfer order, signed by Pol Gen Chatchawal Suksomjit, permanent secretary of the Justice Ministry, cited suitability and government interest as reasons for the sudden move.
The source said Mr Permpoon had been in charge of supervising regional centres of the DSI where at least one official had allegedly been corrupt.
This included the bribery involved in the case of Sahachai "Sia Jo" Chiansoemsin, a fugitive and convicted document forger also suspected of oil smuggling in the South. Authorities found the names of DSI corruption investigators on his phone.
Later, only one DSI official in the South was investigated, but for administrative reasons that led to the transfer of Mr Permpoon, the source said.
Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya on Tuesday quoted Gen Niwat Meenayothin, assistant to the justice minister, as reporting that a deputy DSI director-general was transferred.
The minister said the justice permanent secretary had authority to take such action. After he returned from a meeting on narcotics suppression in Indonesia, he would inquire further about the transfer.