The national police chief yesterday ordered an investigation over controversy in which a regional chief judge apparently threw a tantrum at a low-ranking lance corporal in Nakhon Si Thammarat province at a road checkpoint.
Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda has instructed the commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 8 covering the South, as well as the Nakhon Si Thammarat provincial police to launch a "fair probe" into the case, according to Pol Lt Gen Piya Uthayo, an assistant to Pol Gen Chakthip, and also a spokesman for the Royal Thai Police.
The case garnered controversy after a viral video clip surfaced showing the incident angered netizens and the media.
The video clip shows a high-ranking judge refusing to show his licence to the lance corporal stating that he is a friend of his boss.
The incident took place on the night of May 2 on a road in Thung Yai district in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.
The case took a twist after the lance corporal was relocated immediately to serve as a driver for his boss, Pol Col Chokdee Rakwatanapong, chief of Thung Yai police station.
Pol Col Chokdee is also the friend of the regional chief judge, who was reported to be the chief of the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, Region 8.
Pol Lt Gen Piya told the media the lance corporal was reinstated at traffic police section.
"From the video clip, the lance corporal did his job appropriately. Apparently, the officer had only asked to see the driver's licence at a routine road safety checkpoint in which every driver is required to cooperate with authorities," said Pol Lt Gen Piya.
Pol Maj Gen Thakon Netphukkana, Nakhon Si Thammarat police chief, said no investigation had been carried out yet.