The chief of the border patrol police has been named head of immigration police, replacing Pol Lt Gen Surachate "Big Joke" Hakparn, a high-profile leader who was transferred to an inactive position in early April.
Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang, commissioner of the Border Patrol Police Bureau, was transferred to lead the Immigration Bureau (IB) at a meeting of the Police Board presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday.
Gen Prawit declined to elaborate on the sudden removal of Pol Lt Gen Surachate, who is believed to have close ties with him. "No panel will be set up to investigate Pol Lt Gen Surachate. The case is closed," he said.
Police chief Gen Chakthip Chaijinda said Pol Lt Gen Sompong would replace Pol Lt Gen Surachate while Pol Lt Gen Wichit Paksa, commander of the Commissioner-General's Office and police officer attached to the National Security Council, will replace Pol Lt Gen Sompong as the border patrol police commissioner.
The reshuffle, which involves 55 positions ranging from major general to general, will take effect after it is published in the Royal Gazette.
Pol Gen Chakthip on April 5 transferred Pol Lt Gen Surachate from the IB to the central operation centre at the National Police Office and removed him from all task forces.
Four days later, the cabinet approved his transfer to the Prime Minister's Office as a civilian. On the same day, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha used his special powers under Section 44 of the interim charter to add him to the list of civil servants suspended pending an investigation for irregularities.
Pol Lt Gen Surachate shot to fame after he was assigned several high-profile cases. He regularly held briefings on arrests involving at least 2-3 cases a day, ranging from street racing to the illegal entry of foreigners. He was chief of the tourist police before leading the immigration police.