Lt Gen Manas Kongpan is no stranger to controversy. He has made a name for himself and, in doing so, has become involved in scandal.
During 2005-2006, he earned his reputation as a colonel leading a special task force attached to the 25th Infantry Regiment in the coastal province of Ranong.
His responsibility was to look out for illegal migrants trying to sneak into the country's territorial waters and keep an eye on Thai gamblers who went back and forth across the Myanmar border to casino resorts in Victoria Point, known in Thailand as Koh Song.
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Lt Gen Manas and his unit were widely known as formidable.
But not long after 2006, critics say, doubts started to emerge about him.
In October 2007, Lt Gen Manas was assigned to work in the three southernmost provinces. He led a raid on a suspected drug dealer's house in Narathiwat's Sungai Kolok district and found about 30 million baht in cash, stuffed into PVC pipes.
It was alleged the dealer had links with the insurgent movement.
It was later revealed the actual amount uncovered was more than 70 million baht.
Two of the PVC pipes with the cash went missing under the watch of Lt Gen Manas, and only 30 million baht was ever handed over to police.
Lt Gen Manas was investigated, but let off the hook due to lack of evidence.
The mystery of the missing cash remains.
Much of Lt Gen Manas's military career took place in the southern region. There was talk that he might retire in two years as the Fourth Army Region chief in the South.
He was promoted as commander of the 42nd Military Circle in Songkhla in 2013.
The position is known as an influential post. Whoever holds it receives a nickname: the boss of Hat Yai, or the boss of Songkhla.
Lt Gen Manas stayed in the job until April this year when he was made an army specialist following allegations of involvement in the trafficking of boat people.
The Na Thawi Provincial Court in Songkhla finally approved a warrant to arrest Lt Gen Manas at the end of last month.
Charges range from colluding with civilians in human trafficking; participating in the smuggling of illegal immigrants; and holding victims of trafficking for ransom.
The charges of collusion mean he will be tried in a civilian, rather than a military court.
He turned himself in to police to fight the charges on Wednesday before being handed over to the Police Region 9 Bureau.
His bail was denied out of concern he would meddle with witnesses and evidence.
One piece of what is believed to be key evidence is financial documents purportedly showing money transfers to Lt Gen Manas from March 2013 to February 2014.
A source close to Lt Gen Manas claims the money transfers are for his bull-fighting business, which would be classified as gambling. But the officer has so far remained silent about the origins of the money.
His classmates at the Armed Forces Preparatory School Class of 16 said they were dumbfounded when they learned of his implication in Thailand's human trafficking crackdown.
"He is hard-working and straight as an arrow. He is among the first to have worked on the boat people probe. It's hard to believe he has a hand in it," said one of his classmates.
Army officers who are close to him also voiced scepticism.
They said there was no reason for him to sacrifice his good name to get involved in illegal activity.
According to a military source, Lt Gen Manas is one of the few people who worked on the boat people crisis.
When the migrants are arrested, they are detained by the Internal Security Operations Command.
Those who have been detained for years are allowed to work outside their shelters and are issued a type of identification card.
"This may provide a loophole for authorities to exploit. It is a theory that may need investigation," said the source.
Some observers say the lieutenant general's arrest is not necessarily bad for the military and the interim government.
The action taken against Lt Gen Manas shows the military-installed government is serious about combating human trafficking and is not inclined to protect any wrongdoers — even if they are one of the army's own.
Lt Gen Manas has a long fight ahead if he wants to clear his name.
For now, he also faces suspension from duty and his salary has been put on hold.
The army has set up a disciplinary investigation, headed by Fourth Army commander Lt Gen Prakan Chonlayuth.
