High-ranking Bangkok police who were transferred for their alleged involvement in a roadside billboard scandal can appeal for justice, said Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
Gen Prawit said yesterday superintendents and commanders must be transferred if they were found to have been involved, while those who believed they were unfairly treated can appeal to the national police chief.
An LED advertising screen on a traffic police kiosk at the Chaloem Phao intersection draws the attention of passers-by, but officials suspect it was erected illegally, together with billboards on other kiosks. Thanarak Khunton
He was commenting on the recent mass transfer of 73 senior police attached to the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB).
Of those, 45 are accused of involvement with irregularities in allowing private operators to install electric billboards on the roofs of police booths.
Most of the transferred officers have filed petitions with national police chief Pol Gen Somyot Pumpunmuang complaining the transfers were unfair.
The police chief will have the final say, Gen Prawit said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said officers who are found guilty will be punished according to the law.
Speaking yesterday at a meeting on solving the billboard problems, deputy police chief Pongsapat Pongcharoen said the Treasury Department has confirmed the police booths are state areas under the responsibility of the department.
Installation of billboards on the booths without permission is illegal.
The billboards were installed on 805 police booths, with 173 of them under the Metropolitan Police Bureau's (MPB) supervision.
No details were to hand on how much was paid or where the money ended up.
The MPB and the department are examining agreements made between the private sector and the MPB as well as with other agencies.
Initially, it was found that none of the billboard installers sought approval from the Royal Thai Police or the department.
Private companies and the MPB reached agreements by themselves, said Pol Gen Pongsapat. In some cases, billboard agreements were made between police stations and private firms.
The Treasury Department suggested that from now on, the police seek permission from the Royal Thai Police and the department to legalise the billboards if they have not already dismantled them.
They should also check if private operators had paid rental fees on the installations and how much.