Chairat to face disciplinary charge, but criminal charge dropped
The police will soon pursue a disciplinary charge, but no criminal charges, against the police officer who allegedly assisted ex-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to flee before hearing the court ruling in the negligence case against her in August.
Pol Colonel Chairit Anurit is accused of faking the licence plates of the car he allegedly used to transport Yingluck from Bangkok, besides helping her to get away, as he had confessed to staff judge-advocates.
However, as DNA testing cannot prove that Yingluck was actually in the car Chairit is said to have used to facilitate her flight, the criminal charge against him has now had to be dropped, leaving just the charge of faking the plates, Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Maj-General Panurat Lakboon said on Monday.
The police have concluded that Chairit violated police regulations by “dishonestly carrying out his duty in a manner causing severe damage to the functioning of the state,” said Panurat, who led the fact-finding committee in Chairit’s case.
A committee to prosecute Chairit on disciplinary grounds will be set up soon.
He could face disciplinary sanctions ranging from wage deduction and detention through to sacking, the deputy commissioner added.
Chairit is due to acknowledge the charge against him Tuesday.
