Well-known broadcaster Danai Ekmahasawat will be among witnesses to be questioned in a Crime Suppression Division (CSD) investigation into deputy national police chief Pol Gen Wirachai Songmetta over a controversial leaked audio clip.
Pol Gen Wirachai was accused of releasing an audio clip which caused damage to the police force, while Danai who co-hosts the Inside Thailand news talk programme on 9 MCOT channel was the first to release the recording to the public.
CSD chief Jirabhop Bhuridej said on Sunday the CSD had received an order by the Central Investigation Bureau to launch an investigation. Pol Gen Wirachai was shifted to an inactive post at the PM's Office in January and the Royal Thai Police Office (RTPO) last week filed charges against him.
However, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday reinstated Pol Gen Wirachai to the RTPO.
A source said the audio clip involved a phone conversation leaked on the morning of Jan 9. In the recording, a police officer was heard warning a subordinate. Deputy police spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen confirmed it was a conversation between the police chief and Pol Gen Wirachai.
National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda was heard saying that a police general should not take orders from a police lieutenant general and that Pol Gen Wirachai should not do anything that would erode Pol Gen Chakthip's trust in him.