Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday abruptly transferred national police chief Torsak Sukvimol and his deputy Surachate Hakparn to the Prime Minster's Office, in a move to end the mounting rift within the Royal Thai Police.
The prime minister then appointed deputy national police chief Kitrat Panphet the acting police chief.
Earlier in the day, Pol Gen Torsak and Pol Gen Surachate had shared a vehicle when going to a meeting with Mr Srettha.
Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary-general to the prime minister, on Wednesday confirmed the transfers of the two top police officers to assist with work at the PM’s Office.
The prime minister had issued the order transferring the two top police generals after his meeting with them on Wednesday morning, Dr Prommin said. (continues below)
Deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn answers reporters' questions following his transfer to the PM's Office. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)
The transfers would help end the rift in the police force. If it came to nothing, they could later return to work as normal, the PM’s secretary-general said.
On Wednesday morning, Pol Gen Torsak "Big Tor" had announced he was handing all legal cases involving his deputy Surachate "Big Joke'' over to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, hoping to end the impression of conflict within the RTPO. Both were later called in to see the prime minister.
The two senior-most police generals have been in the headlines recently amid reports that Pol Gen Surachate could be charged with money laundering in cases connected with online gambling networks.
Pol Gen Kitrat confirmed he had been assigned the role of acting national police chief.
He said a letter from the prime minister appointing him acting national police chief would be delivered to the Office of the Police Secretary on Wednesday. He declined to go into further detail.
The prime minister would have a meeting on Thursday with police at the level of commander throughout the country, to explain his policy for the police force, Pol Gen Kitrat said.
Pol Gen Surachate said later he was aware of the transfer order, but had yet to see the details about his new position. He expected this would be made clear on Wednesday evening. He would perform his job as ordered by his commander.
If the transfer order took effect immediately, he and the national police chief could not attend Thursday's meeting between the prime minister and police commanders, he said. They would be busy with the tasks assigned them at the PM’s Office, Pol Gen Surachate said.
He denied any knowledge of the motive for the transfers, saying he had to look into the details of the transfer order. He could not confirm the motive was a conflict between himself and the national police chief. During the meeting with the prime minister on Wednesday morning, there was no mention of the transfers, Pol Gen Surachate said.
Pol Gen Torsak said on Wednesday afternoon had seen the transfer order, which took immediate effect. The transfer order mentioned that he was unable to manage the rift in the force. Therefore, a person who had no stake in the matter should be made acting police chief, so the investigation would be handled in a fair manner.
Although he remained the national police chief, he could not attend the prime minister's meeting on Thursday with police commanders across the country, because he would be at a royal function, Pol Gen Torsak said.
Deputy national police chief Kitrat Panphet, left, now serving as acting national police chief. (Pool photo)
