The Police Commission has unanimously voted to remove the former deputy national police chief from duty. The commission voted to dismiss Surachate Hakparn from the police service after debating the issue for 2 hours.
According to a Thai PBS World report, yesterday Surachate had submitted a petition to the police chief Torsak Sukvimol, himself only recently reinstated to the top job, to revoke an order to dismiss him from service.
That order had been issued on April 18 by the then-acting police chief Kitrat Phanphet after Surachate was charged with colluding in money laundering connected to an online gambling network.
On the same day, Kitrat issued an order transferring Surachate back to the Royal Thai Police from the PM’s Office, before then issuing the second order, which dismissed him from the service.
Surachate and Torsak’s transfers to the PM’s Office in March had been ordered by PM Srettha Thavisin, as a result of the very public rift between the high-ranking officers.
Surachate has been battling to return to his position as deputy national police chief and the likely promotion eventually to the top job of national police chief. He has threatened to sue the PM, Kitrat, Torsak, and Winai Thongsong, a retired deputy police chief, if he doesn’t get his job back.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
