Deputy National Police chief Wirachai fired
Deputy National Police chief Pol General Wirachai Songmetta has been dismissed from his current position, according to an official document issued on August 31.
The Royal Thai Police reported that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had ordered the Prime Minister's Office to publish the document.
Wirachai was accused of dereliction of duty and was interrogated by a committee on corruption, which later presented the investigation report to HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
The royal command stated that Wirachai had been dismissed from the position of Deputy National Police chief with effect from July 29.
Wirachai allegedly had defied the order of National Police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda on January 9 not to get involved in the case of shots fired at a Lexus SUV of Pol Lt-General Surachate Hakparn, a former Immigration Police chief.
Wirachai was transferred on January 23 to an inactive post at Government House for allegedly "projecting a negative image of the Royal Thai Police” through his behaviour and actions.
