Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin has denied providing a "fast-track pass" for a police appointment, saying an investigation will get underway to determine if there was any wrongdoing.
Mr Somsak yesterday attended a meeting with the House Committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy, and National Reform to represent Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who was in Nakhon Ratchasima province for the Pheu Thai Party's annual seminar.
The committee, led by Move Forward Party list-MP Rangsiman Rome, earlier raised questions over a statement Mr Srettha had made that some police officials would be "happy" or "disappointed" with the results of a reshuffle.
The questions followed the resignation of Pol Col Thanet Sukchai, a former chief of Phuket Immigration Police, shortly before he was transferred to Prachuap Khiri Khan in the Nov 29 police reshuffle.
Critics attribute the PM's comment to the existence of a patronage system in the political world, and the committee had demanded that the PM clarify the "criteria" behind certain reshuffles.
Mr Somsak said the PM did not provide clarification on the details. However, he insisted that there was no fast-track pass in the reshuffle process.
He added that an investigation by the Moral System Protection Committee will be carried out to look into the matter in accordance with the National Police Act to see if any wrongdoing was ever committed.
Regarding the PM's comment, Mr Somsak said the PM did not intend to suggest there was a patronage system.
Previously, Mr Somsak told parliament that the cabinet could not be involved in reshuffles.