A deputy police commander arrested after being caught taking crystal meth has been temporarily expelled from the force and detained at the Central Correctional Institution for Drug Addicts.
Pol Col Jakkrit Liemchaengphan, 48, the former deputy commander of the Office of Logistics, was arrested in Bangkok's Prawet district on Friday.
His is the son of former MPB commissioner and assistant national police chief Pol Gen Chamlong Lemchaengphan, who also served as deputy public health minister in the Thaksin Shinawatra cabinet.
The police colonel was found intoxicated in a room at the Rider Resort in Srinakarin Soi 49.
The resort has been linked to criminal activity before. Last year a police raid found prostitutes, drugs and records allegedly documenting bribes to officials.
Police seized four packs of crystal meth weighing 19g from the room.
Pol Col Jakkrit admitted to taking the drug, however he denied the meth belonged to him.
Shortly after Pol Col Jakkrit's arrest, Pol Lt Gen Piya Sorntrakul, commissioner of the Office of Logistics, signed an order temporarily removing him from the force pending the result of disciplinary and criminal investigations.
The removal order — effective immediately — said the criminal investigation against Pol Col Jakkrit could take some time.
Kongkrit Pornkongthawat, director of the Central Correctional Institution for Drug Addicts in Chatuchak district, said Pol Col Jakkrit is being remanded in Zone 3 of the facility.
He was transferred there early on Saturday evening after police obtained court permission to detain him.
Zone 3 is an induction quarter for newly-arrived drug addicts.
Detainees usually spend up to a month there before being moved to other zones.
Mr Kongkrit said Pol Col Jakkrit appeared tense when he first arrived, and has been placed under close supervision.
Pol Col Jakkrit is expected to be moved to Zone 4 next month to undergo drug rehabilitation, he said.