Panel set up to investigate ‘drunk’ prosecutor incident

Somnuek Siengkong identified the prosecutor as Thanapon Jutatemee, a special prosecutor of the Narcotic Litigation Department.
The probe follows a report from Theera Hongcharoen, director general of Public Prosecutor Commission, which said that Thanapon appeared to be the person involved, judging from audio clips and his past record.
Thanapon appeared to be drunk, the spokesman said, adding that the behaviour was not appropriate and had a negative impact on the image of prosecutors and the office as a whole.
Theera was assigned by the Attorney General to investigate the incident that was much criticised in the public and on social media.
Somnuek said that during the investigation by the disciplinary panel, Thanapon will not be entitled to any promotion. He said the incident has affected the public prosecutors community and asked the public to understand that in every society there is always a black sheep. 
The audio clip was allegedly a conversation between Thanapon and two unnamed policemen from Saensuk police station who were ordered to apologise to Thanapon.
The policemen was heard telling him that they had been told by their commander to see him and apologise but they did not know what they had done wrong.
The man, who identified himself as a public prosecutor in the clip, said the policemen were in the wrong for failing to treat him with due respect.
It was reported that the policemen had been on patrol and the public prosecutor, who was apparently drunk, got their attention by sounding his car’s horn and told them to lead the way to a local food restaurant.
However, the policemen refused to comply, saying they were on duty patrolling the area.
The public prosecutor then became angry and called the station commander to demand an apology. 
The policemen said the prosecutor also called a local military leader, demanding that he send three troops to arrest them and get them to apologise in person.
Thanapon was reportedly involved in an incident two years ago. He refused to take an alcohol test when he was asked, on suspicion that he was drunk. He reportedly showed his prosecutor’s identity card during his refusal.
It is reported that following the incident, he was suspended from promotion for one year.
Meanwhile Admiral Jumpon Limpikanon, navy spokesman said that his office still has no information on the report that three Navy officers were involved in the incident.
Pol Maj General Sompraong Yentuam, a police commander of Chon Buri said that he has already assigned his deputy to look into the case.
The policemen involved did not want to take any action against Thanapon, he said.
He insisted, however, that the two policemen were asked to explain the situation to Thanapon, not to apologise to him.