Tourist Police Bureau (TPB) deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn has been named assistant spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, according to defence spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich.
Surachate: Close ties to Gen Prawit
Lt Gen Kongcheep said Gen Prawit signed off on the appointment on Friday.
A source familiar with the matter said Pol Maj Gen Surachate, also known as "Big Joke", retains close ties to Gen Prawit. He has risen through the police ranks over the years, having commanded the 191 emergency police unit before he was made TPB deputy commissioner.
The source said Pol Maj Gen Surachate emerged as a strong candidate to be promoted to TPB commissioner in the police reshuffle later this year.
Lt Gen Kongcheep said Gen Prawit has many current responsibilities concerning national security, including tackling major problems such as the proliferation of informal debts owed to predatory lenders and call centre scams.
Call centre scams, in particular, require a transnational effort to stamp out. Pol Maj Ben Surachate has aided Chinese police in arresting suspects who were operating their businesses from there.