The Police Board on Wednesday endorsed the reshuffle of 73 officers, marking one of the largest-ever shake-ups in the Metropolitan Police Bureau.
The board, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, approved the proposal offered by the MPB to remove 14 commanders and 59 superintendents from their present positions.
Advertising screens on traffic police booths are believed to have led to the mass transfer of Metropolitan Police Bureau officers in a decision endorsed by the Police Board on Wednesday. (Photo by Thanarak Khunton)
The panel did not reveal the names of the officers being transferred nor the reasons for the moves. It is believed that 45 of them were alleged to be involvement in irregularities that allowed private companies to install electronic billboards on the roofs of traffic-police booths across the capital.
Gen Prawit, who also is defence minister, said after the meeting the board agreed to the transfer without any objection. The approval clears the way for MPB commander Sriwara Rangsipramanakul to sign the transfer order.
The board chairman said the transfer order could be signed by Friday and take effect by Jan 15.
Pol Lt Gen Sriwara reiterated that fairness was employed in the transfer decision, insisting it was done in accordance with the Police Act. He said he was ready to defend the case if any officers fought their transfers.
Many officers targeted for transfer already have filed petitions with national police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang. They can take their cases to the Administrative Court if they believe they were unfairly treated by supervisors.
The MPB commander and Pol Gen Somyot sat on the board Wednesday.
The mass transfer received backing from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who said on Tuesday that any police found guilty of offences would be punished.
According to deputy police chief Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, 173 billboards were installed in Bangkok in deals signed between individual officers and private firms. The MPB was unaware of the commercial agreements, he said on Tuesday.
Most illegal advertising screens at police kiosks were brought down or shut off since Pol Gen Somyot launched a campaign to crack down on them in November. His move was the starting point for the transfer of the officers on the reshuffle list on Wednesday.