A former senior officer who was among those who lost their jobs in a recent purge by the new national police chief has died under unexplained circumstances.
Pol Col Akkharawut Limrat was pronounced dead at Phramongkutklao Hospital at 1.32am on Thursday, Thai media outlets reported on Saturday. He had sustained a fractured spine in a "fall from a high place", the reports said.
Further questions have arisen following reports that Akkharawut's family took his body to Wat Lak Si at 1.30pm on Friday and the cremation was held just a half-hour later.
Akkharawut, former chief of Sub-Division 1 of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), was transferred to an inactive post along with CSD commander Chaithat Boomkham on Nov 14. The order, signed by national police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang, did not specify the reasons for the transfers.
Two days earlier, Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Pongpat Chayapan and his deputy Kowit Wongrungruang were removed from their jobs. More than a dozen other senior police officers have been transferred in the past six weeks.
Pol Gen Somyot, who took office on Oct 1, has not commented publicly on the recent shake-ups. However, police sources have said that some of the officers transferred had been aligned with "certain political camps".
The sources said some of the vacancies were expected to be filled by policemen aligned with Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, the leader of the powerful Burapha Phayak military clique that includes Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri said on Saturday that he was not aware of Akkharawut’s death and would look into the matter.