Probe panel recommends stripping Thaksin of police rank

In the case of Pol Lt-Colonel Thaksin, the committee ruled unanimously that the ex-premier had fled the country to avoid legal action in a criminal case, so his rank could be legally removed.

National police chief Pol General Somyot Poompanmuang declined to say how long he would take to consider the committee’s recommendation, saying it was in the public’s interest so he needed to consider it carefully.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday the national police may forward the recommendation to him and it would be considered based on normal procedure and he would not exercise his special authority under Article 44 of the interim charter.

Chaiya, the probe committee chairman said: “I can reassure the public that the committee considered this matter strictly on the basis of law, which is the National Police Act of 2004. There is clear evidence that the person concerned was convicted in a criminal case and fled the country to avoid punishment so we could recommend to the national police chief that his rank be removed. The national police chief will have to forward the recommendation to Cabinet and the prime minister. When there is a royal endorsement the process will be complete.”

Thaksin is legally regarded as a fugitive, as he was earlier sentenced to a two-year jail term in a criminal case involving the illegal purchase of state-owned land and fled the country before serving his jail term. According to Pol General Chaiya, Thaksin currently faces a total of seven arrest warrants, but two of them have already expired.

He said the national police force had also received complaints from the public via the Office of Ombudsman regarding the issue, so his committee also took this into consideration when recommending that the ex-premier’s rank be removed in accordance with the law.

Chaiya said the recommendation should not be seen as an attempt to illegitimately hurt the former premier.

Army chief General Udomdej Sitabutr filed a defamation suit against Thaksin yesterday for discrediting the Army in an media interview overseas on the political situation in Thailand, that was broadcast on YouTube and other online media recently. The Criminal Court accepted the lawsuit yesterday and will hold its first hearing on this on September 7.

Interior Minister General Anupong Pao-chinda said there have been no reports of red-shirt movements in the provinces over the recent revoking of Thaksin’s two Thai passports. He said the government had acted in accordance with the law when taking action against the former premier following his remarks, which were deemed in violation of lese majeste and other laws.

“We take legal action in response to someone’s wrongdoings. I think most Thai people have a better understanding now, as events in the past four to five years have helped them understand the situation better. I hope we don’t return to the old path,” he said.

In an online post, Thaksin said he had returned to Dubai from Singapore, where he had met two of grandchildren. He said he now had free time to meditate and noted that legal powers and guns could not solve the political conflict.