Disgraced former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Pongpat Chayapan and his two former police aides have been stripped of all royal decorations and police ranks after being fired for gross disciplinary violations.
The revocation of the police ranks and royal decorations of Pongpat, Kowit Wongrungroj and Boonsueb Praithuen was approved by His Majesty the King and announced on the websites of the cabinet and the Royal Gazette Publishing Office on Friday.
Kowit was a former deputy CIB chief and Boonsueb was a former chief of the Marine Police Division. Both held the rank of major general. They were part of a criminal network headed by Pongpat, formerly a lieutenant-general.
The revocation, countersigned by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, took effect retroactively to Nov 23.
Pongpat, whose criminal network was brought down last year, is now serving a lengthy jail term, along with Kowit and Boonsueb, for numerous offences including soliciting and accepting bribes, malfeasance and lese majeste.
The gang led by Pongpat had amassed billions of baht in cash, property, jewellery and other valuables, as well as a huge collection of art and artefacts, all obtained from their illegal activities between 2009 and 2014.