Sacked spokesman resigns from police
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Prawut's ouster was not based on his performance, police chief clarifies
POL LT-GENERAL Prawut Thavorn-siri has tendered his resignation, ending his police career after his abrupt removal as police spokesman, a high-ranking police officer told The Nation yesterday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, this officer said the resignaion was sent to national police Commissioner General Chakthip Chaijinda yesterday.
The resignation came even though Chakthip had said that Prawut’s removal from the post had nothing to do with performance issues or anything suspicious. “I have appointed a new team of police spokesman and deputies because it’s a part of the cycle. When players on the field feel tired, they need to take a break,” Chakthip said.
General Dejnarong Suttich-arnbancha has now officially replaced Prawut as police spokesman. Prawut in fact still retained his post as the adviser Level 10 when he submitted his resignation.
Earlier in the day, Chakthip also firmly denied a rumour that Prawut’s home had been raided and searched. “No, that’s not true,” he said.
Asked about a recent high-profile lese-majeste case, Chakthip said a press conference would be officially held today to provide the public with information on the case. Suspects in the case include fortune-teller Suriyan Sujaritpol-wong, better known as “Mor Yong”, and Pol Major Prakrom Warunprapa, who died during his detention last Friday.
Before his arrest, Suriyan had served as an adviser to a subcommittee responsible for holding activities for the “Bike for Mom” cycling event in August, as well as the “Bike for Dad” event scheduled for December.
Pol Lt-General Thitiraj Nongharnpitak, chief of the Central Investigation Bureau, said today’s press conference would inform the public that the suspects had abused the reputation of the country’s high institution in seeking personal benefits.
“We are going to make clear that the arrests of all suspects are based on evidence,” he said.
Asked about rumours that a high-level police officer has also been implicated, Thitiraj said the details of the case would be revealed at the press conference today. The press conference would not disclose details about assets seizures, he said.
An informed source said Prawut was on vacation and he flew out of Thailand before Chakthip removed him as police spokesman on Monday.
“He is scheduled to fly back to Thailand on November 2,” the source said.
To many, the order to remove Prawut from the post of police spokesman is a surprise given that Chakthip had only just installed him in the post on October 14.
Prawut also has solid credentials and sufficient experience to serve as spokesman for the police force. He served as police spokesman several times in the past. He was first appointed as spokesman by then acting national police chief Pol General Pateep Tanprasert.
When Pol General Wichean Potephosree rose to the helm of the police force, he appointed Prawut as spokesman. During his term as the national police |commissioner, Chakthip’s predecessor, Pol General Somyot Poompanmoung, also named Prawut as police spokesman.
