Deputy Attorney General Itthiporn Kaewtip has been appointed to succeed Attorney General Phairach Pornsomboonsiri, who will retire at the end of September, the Public Prosecution Commission announced on Wednesday.
The meeting of the commission chaired by Rewat Chanprasert voted unanimously to select Mr Itthiporn, the most senior deputy, to be come the country’s 20th attorney general.
Under the Public Prosecution Institution and Public Prosecutors Act, 2553 BE, the nomination will be forwarded to the Senate for endorsement before being submitted for royal approval.
Three people were nominated for the post, and all excused themselves during the vote.
A Thammasat and Chulalongkorn law graduate and Thai barrister, Mr Itthiporn began his prosecutorial career in 1987.
He held many key roles, including as a provincial prosecutor in 2000, director-general of Criminal Litigation in 2021, and deputy attorney-general since 2022. He also served as a spokesman for the Office of the Attorney General from 2020-22.
He is also known for his expertise in criminal law and serves as the chairman of a working group responsible for determining guidelines for the enforcement of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese-majeste law.