Police to summon Rangsit Uni rector over ‘position trading’ claim

The allegations were damaging to the police and may have violated the Computer Crime Act, which would carry a penalty of up to five years in prison and a Bt100,000 fine, Piyapan said. 

If the investigation found that Arthit’s actions constituted defamation, he would be charged accordingly, Piyapan said.

He added that police were probing for possible links to a previous post by National Reform Steering Assembly member Admiral Prajun Tampratheep which claimed an unnamed Army general was involved in the trading of police positions.

On Monday deputy national police chief Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul lodged a complaint with the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) against Arthit for posting the allegation and criticising police reform on his Facebook page, which has 23,000 followers. 

With rumours of position trading emerging during an ongoing period of police transfers, Piyapan said that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and his deputy, General Prawit Wongsuwan, had ordered police to gather evidence against rumour-mongers in preparation for legal action.

The spokesman insisted that the transfer process would be transparent and warned that criticism of police transfers could break the law.

Prawit, meanwhile, dismissed the notion that the modern Royal Thai Police would indulge in such illegal activity and said comments such as Arthit’s would demoralise officers. 

“I won’t sue Dr Arthit, as this is a police matter. But I affirm that if he made the comment as reported, he should have substantial evidence to back his claim, rather than merely claiming that others say it. He can’t do that. If he wants to meet me, he can come any day. I confirm that police are working to the best of their ability and trying to do everything [in their power] to prevent inequity and to uphold justice.”