Fifty-six police officers of the Central InvestigatIB) have been transferred in the latest reshuffle approved by the Police Commission yesterday.
Most of the officers were allegedly caught up in the scandal involving former chief Pongpat Chayapan.
Sriwara: Officers can appeal against fate
Acting CIB chief Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thawornsiri yesterday spent 20 minutes explaining to the commission the reasons behind the transfers after the scandal involving Lt Gen Pongpat and his senior police accomplices emerged in late November last year.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon.
Most of the 56 officers, who are among 130 CIB police transferred since the Pongpat scandal came to light, are suspected of being involved in receiving bribes from oil smuggling gangs, demanding money in return for promoting some officers in what is called a "trade" of police positions, helping gambling dens and making money from online football gambling.
The commission yesterday raised no objection to the CIB's transfers, said Lt Gen Prawut, also national police spokesman.
Following the commission's approval, the 56 officers will be moved out of the CIB once their chiefs sign the order, which is expected to take effect on Jan 15.
Among the transferred officers are 44 superintendents and 12 commanders.
Some of them volunteered to move out of the agency, Lt Gen Prawut said.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) also made a number of transfer requests and its chief Pol Lt Gen Sriwara Rangsiphramnakul yesterday spent about 10 minutes clarifying the transfers of 73 city police officers to the commission.
The MPB wants to remove 14 commanders and 59 superintendents from their present positions.
The panel did not reveal the names of the officers being transferred nor the reasons for the moves.
However, it is believed that 45 of the officers were alleged to have been involved in irregularities that allowed private companies to install electronic billboards on the roofs of traffic-police booths across the capital. Details of this scandal are still unfolding.
Gen Prawit, who also is defence minister, said after the meeting that the board agreed to the transfers without objection.
The approval clears the way for Lt Gen Sriwara to sign the transfer order.
Pol Lt Gen Sriwara said fairness was observed in the transfer decision, and the process was carried out under the Police Act.
"What I did falls under legal procedures, but if I make a mistake, I will take responsibility," he said.
National police chief Pol Gen Somyot Pumpunmuang said before the commission's meeting he received complaints from some officers against their transfers in the scandal involving the illegal advertisement screens.
He said the transfers would be done in a transparent manner. Police who believe they have been unfairly treated over the transfers can make complaints directly with their agencies or the Police Commission, Pol Lt Gen Prawut said.