An opposition MP in Phuket is demanding an explanation for a recent police reshuffle that saw the nephew of Thaksin Shinawatra’s ex-wife promoted to the top job with immigration police at Phuket Airport.
Rangsiman Rome from the Move Forward Party took to Facebook to question the appointment.
He also questioned why Phuket’s former commissioner of immigration police resigned suddenly and was immediately transferred to Prachuap Khiri Khan, with a replacement appointed.
“I personally think the Royal Thai Police need to respond to these and other questions raised over the latest police reshuffle at the Phuket police immigration office and Immigration Division 6.”
Rangsiman asked why Phuket’s former commissioner Thanet Sukchai was deemed unsuitable for the role and demanded to know what made his replacement a suitable candidate.
“What actually made Thanet less suitable for the position (of Phuket immigration police chief)? And why is the new commissioner more suitable than him?”
The Move Forward MP also referenced the recent appointment of Padthongtew Damapong as the new chief of immigration police at Phuket Airport. Padthongtew is the son of Thaksin Shinawatra’s ex-wife and his father is a former national police chief.
Rangsiman points out that Padthongtew’s promotion to the top job in Phuket comes just 10 months after he was appointed chief of an administrative unit at Immigration Bureau headquarters.
The Move Forward MP says either the new appointee is truly outstanding or he has received a “fast-track pass” and support from “a very important person”.
He then refers to reports that while discussing the November police reshuffle, PM Srettha Thavisin allegedly stated that some MPs had intervened in police appointments, adding that some officers would be happy, while others wouldn’t.
“And is Thanet one of the police commanders whose wish would not come true, while Padthongtew is among the commanders whose wish would become true as mentioned by PM Srettha Thavisin recently?”
The PM strenuously denies that he ever made the comments.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
