An inquiry has been ordered into the conduct of a police sub-lieutenant seen in a viral video clip handing out <i>ang pao</i> Chinese New Year gift money to about 60 city policemen last week, according to Thai media reports.
The reports said an initial investigation showed the man in the clip was Pol Sub-Lt Manas Termtanasak, a deputy inspector at Special Branch Police 1 who was assigned to guard Pol Gen Paisal Chuerod, a former senior adviser to the Royal Thai Police (RTP).
City police launched a fact-finding probe and learned the 60 policemen were posted at Taling Chan, Thammasala, Bang Yikan and Ban Sao Thong, and identified the person who gave out the money as an active police officer.
The officer has been called back to his original unit and a committee has been set up to look into his alleged misconduct, including travelling overseas without permission, according to the reports. The inquiry is headed by Pol Lt Col Aeknirut Wansiriphak of Special Branch Police 1.
Pol Sub-Lt Manas allegedly made 96 overseas trips between Feb 26, 2016 and Feb 13, 2018 without permission from his supervisors.
The video is embarrassing for the RTP. It followed an order on Feb 9 from deputy national police chief Chalermkiat Srivorakhan prohibiting police from taking ang pao.
The video clip was posted by the deputy dean of Rangsit University's faculty of law, Komsan Phokong, on his Facebook page.