Ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra is one step closer to having his police rank stripped, after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha signed an acknowledgement of the formal request Thursday.
The next and final step is to seek the King's endorsement, which Gen Prayut said is still being completed.
He said officials are busy drafting the letter to be sent to the palace.
The police sent their offical request seeking the removal of Thaksin's police lieutenant colonel rank to the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday.
Gen Prayut signed off Thursday on the request.
He confirmed Thaksin would also be stripped of his rank insignia and royal decorations, but that would occur after the King officially endorses the removal of his police rank.
The official process for those recalls is on hold until Thaksin's rank is officially withdrawn.
"About 600 to 700 officials have been stripped of their ranks. I don't want the media to pay too much attention to any particular individual whose rank will be revoked," the premier said.