Stage set for Priewpan to become police chief

Today, the Cabinet is expected to approve the transfer of national police chief General Wichean Potephosree to the post of secretary-general of the National Security Council, following last week’s royal endorsement of the transfer of the council’s former secretary-general, Thawil Pliensri, to an advisory post attached to Prime Minister’s Office.
The post of national police chief will then be vacant, awaiting Priewpan’s appointment. The posting is expected to be made by the Royal Thai Police Board this week.
Priewpan was this close to the top police post on a previous occasion last year, but then-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva decided to give the post to Wichean.
At that time, Priewpan expressed his dissatisfaction, claiming he had seniority. He questioned whether he had been bypassed because he is the older brother of Khunying Pojaman na Pombejra, ex-wife of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Priewpan, who was police drug-suppression chief in 2000, made his name during the Thaksin government’s war on drugs. From being 5th assistant police chief, Priewpan jumped to become deputy chief. Critics claimed at the time that his ascendancy was because of his relationship with Thaksin.
Priewpan was removed from the post of deputy police chief after the 2006 coup, but returned to the job in 2008 during the Samak Sundaravej government. He has only one year left before retirement.
Royal Thai Police Board secretary Pol General Ake Angsananont said yesterday that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had not yet scheduled a board meeting to select the national police chief, as the position had to be vacant first. Such a meeting had to be called three days in advance, he said.
According to the 2004 National Police Act, the prime minister must nominate a police officer with the rank of General for the board’s approval before the appointment is submitted for royal endorsement. The Act does not stipulate how much time the candidate must have before retirement.
The Cabinet approved Thawil’s transfer to the Prime Minister’s Office on September 6, after Wichean agreed to leave his post as police chief if he could become NSC secretary-general. Wichean later took leave, paving the way for Priewpan to take the top police position in an acting capacity.
Thawil has filed a petition against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra with the Merit Systems Protection Board, to protest against his transfer.
Preawphan was yesterday appointed a director of Thai Airways International. He replaces Sathit Limpongpan, whose term expired along with that of three other directors.