Powerful Thai CSD boss removed

[webfact]

Powerful CSD boss removed



BANGKOK: -- Commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and the superintendent of the CSD's first subdivision were removed from their active posts in this powerful police unit to the Royal Thai Police Operations Centre with immediate effect today.

In another order signed Friday by Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyot Phumpanmuang, both CSD commander Pol Maj-Gen Chaitat Boonkham and first subdivision superintendent Pol Col Akarawut Limratana are transferred to the Royal Thai Police Operations Centre with immediate effect.

They were ordered to report to the centre by 4.00 pm today.

No reason was given in the sudden transfer of both officers. The order said only for peace and order, and work efficiency.

Pol Maj- Sombat was just appointed CSD commander early last month. He is said to have close connection with the Central Investigation Bureau commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Pongpat Chayaphan who was earlier this week transferred to the Royal Thai Police Operations Centre long with his deputy.

Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyot explained briefly today that Pol Lt-Gen Pongpat is an experienced and capable officer and he needed to assign him a big job.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/powerful-csd-boss-removed/

-- Thai PBS 2014-11-14

[EricBerg]

Seems the guy wasn't that powerful after all. The new "big" job will be an inactive one.

[Costas2008]

So the Royal Thai Police Operations Centre has become the dumping ground for unwanted police officials?

That's OK with me as long as they improve the quality of this Police force.

[iReason]

Perhaps he was trying to do his job in a murder case.

And Pol Gen Somyot may have differed...

[15Peter20]

So four major sackings at the top of the police in one week and not one clearly defined reson for any of them. The public interest is shat on once again.

[apalink_thailand]

Interesting. The CID is the closest thing Thailand has to a real police force. I wonder what sparked this?

[CMHomeboy78]

Kicked upstairs.

[Commerce]

So four major sackings at the top of the police in one week and not one clearly defined reson for any of them. The public interest is shat on once again.

You know the reason. It's still not going up!

[mrtoad]

something is going on in The BIB, or something is going to be released soon and the sacrificial lambs are being lined up.

[simonuk]

It's such a farce " we know you all know we are corrupt and inept and that's fine as long as it's not said outloud or in print"

[trainman34014]

Moving them sideways is no answer.....just move them right out !

[bangrak]

Interesting. The CID is the closest thing Thailand has to a real police force. I wonder what sparked this?

CSD! So, what was it you were telling us about?

[Robby nz]

So four major sackings at the top of the police in one week and not one clearly defined reson for any of them. The public interest is shat on once again.

So in your expert opinion it would have been in the public interest to leave these people in their top police jobs.

We hear all the time that the police force is extremely corrupt and needs a good clean out yet when top police who are presumable among the corrupt are moved on we see some complaining bitterly. You cant have it both ways, either a clean up starts or it doesn't and the top is a great place to start as it sends a clear message that no one is safe and is a huge loss of face for those that have lost their powerful jobs.

[Anthony5]

No reason was given in the sudden transfer of both officers. The order said only for peace and order, and work efficiency.

Sounds like they forgot to add, and for bringing back happiness.

[sweatalot]

So four major sackings at the top of the police in one week and not one clearly defined reson for any of them. The public interest is shat on once again.

So in your expert opinion it would have been in the public interest to leave these people in their top police jobs.

We hear all the time that the police force is extremely corrupt and needs a good clean out yet when top police who are presumable among the corrupt are moved on we see some complaining bitterly. You cant have it both ways, either a clean up starts or it doesn't and the top is a great place to start as it sends a clear message that no one is safe and is a huge loss of face for those that have lost their powerful jobs.

" when top police who are presumable among the corrupt are moved on "

Isn't Somyot the one responsible for the Koh Tao Desaster, the one who threatened the public for commenting about the case?

The one who is telling us everything with that terrible case is in order? The one who presided the "clearing" action of the headman's son?

So if those sackings are cleaning actions - what kind of cleaning is it? And who are the corrupt? Just questions

[recycled]

Looks to me like he is setting up his Mafia power base with hand picked lieutenants by his side.

[animatic]

A new broom sweeps clean.

Anyone with questionable loyalties will get sidetracked,

and this is the perfect time to move them out,

and to exert your authority so all below will obey.

[15Peter20]

So four major sackings at the top of the police in one week and not one clearly defined reson for any of them. The public interest is shat on once again.

So in your expert opinion it would have been in the public interest to leave these people in their top police jobs.

We hear all the time that the police force is extremely corrupt and needs a good clean out yet when top police who are presumable among the corrupt are moved on we see some complaining bitterly. You cant have it both ways, either a clean up starts or it doesn't and the top is a great place to start as it sends a clear message that no one is safe and is a huge loss of face for those that have lost their powerful jobs.

You appear to have jumped on me having misunderstood my point.

The problem isn't necessarily that they have been sacked - they may well have deserved it who knows? And 'who knows' is the problem. No-one knows. Whilst you seem content to accept a near total lack of transparency in the moves, the 'public interest' usually demands more.

Edited November 14, 2014 by 15Peter20

[fgmr]

Reading the blogs on this subject makes me wonder whether people really consider all options before drawing to conclusions which coincide with their prejudicial views,

The four officers "removed from their posts". What does anyone know about the TRUE facts. Until then would it not have been less accusative to use the word 'transferred'.

Were these four musketeers working together on something which would likely have caused more powerful individuals, groups, clubs or societies to apply pressure at the appropriate level to ensure they were REMOVED.

Alternatively are these four individuals among a cadre who are now deployed at The Ops Centre working together to provide much needed improvements. It has been stated many times before that if you need to change the culture of an organisation you need to start at the top.

I fully agree with 15Peter20's concluding remarks, "The problem isn't necessarily that they have been sacked - they may well have deserved it who knows? And 'who knows' is the problem. No-one knows. Whilst you seem content to accept a near total lack of transparency in the moves, the 'public interest' usually demands more., "

[Jim walker]

Too much investigating and not enough collections for the retirement fund.

[noitom]

Why is this police transfer even news? The drama of this Thai thing is mind boggling. If the guy is on the take or he is a crook or abuses his authority fire him with no benefits and prosecute him on criminal charges. Don't "transfer" him and keep paying him and still have him on the benefit dole when he retires.

[ezzra]

I have a suggestion where he can go, with a rank of a pol. gen. he can command the ministry of inactive post

no? he will have more than his hand's full of man, many subordinates there that have been sent other

over the years..

[Ulic]

I look forward to the reason these guys have been moved in such a swift fashion.

Looks ominous for them based on the speed of the transfer. Hopefully the full story

will come out soon.

[heyexile]

So four major sackings at the top of the police in one week and not one clearly defined reson for any of them. The public interest is shat on once again.

So in your expert opinion it would have been in the public interest to leave these people in their top police jobs.

We hear all the time that the police force is extremely corrupt and needs a good clean out yet when top police who are presumable among the corrupt are moved on we see some complaining bitterly. You cant have it both ways, either a clean up starts or it doesn't and the top is a great place to start as it sends a clear message that no one is safe and is a huge loss of face for those that have lost their powerful jobs.

" when top police who are presumable among the corrupt are moved on "

Isn't Somyot the one responsible for the Koh Tao Desaster, the one who threatened the public for commenting about the case?

The one who is telling us everything with that terrible case is in order? The one who presided the "clearing" action of the headman's son?

So if those sackings are cleaning actions - what kind of cleaning is it? And who are the corrupt? Just questions

Good questions. Who appointed these top cops? Are not most of them buddies of their boss and former 31st Class Police Academy member Pol Comm General Somyot.

How can the very top cops reform themselves? Pol Comm General is hand-picked appointee of Supreme Commander Pol Dept, ie NCPO leader the good PM

[deckard]

Night of the long knives ????

[Benmart]

Kicked upstairs.

Stairs that go up are sometimes a method of securing a long flight down.

When one knows only vague details, it is best to wait and see the outcome.

[snairb]

having watched the general last night on tv seems to me he knows what he is doing

if you are going to reorganise its necessary to make changes and redundancies and you do that by getting the top man to do it

and then...

[Trouble]

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So four major sackings at the top of the police in one week and not one clearly defined reson for any of them. The public interest is shat on once again.

So in your expert opinion it would have been in the public interest to leave these people in their top police jobs.

We hear all the time that the police force is extremely corrupt and needs a good clean out yet when top police who are presumable among the corrupt are moved on we see some complaining bitterly. You cant have it both ways, either a clean up starts or it doesn't and the top is a great place to start as it sends a clear message that no one is safe and is a huge loss of face for those that have lost their powerful jobs.

It is fine to remove these people but shouldn't the reasons be made public. OR is it just a reshuffle bringing in top cops who are more friendly to the junta?

[catinthehat]

But the bottom line is still that (in saving face) both the reason for this move and any further reporting of an investigation will never be known. And when the dust settles they will quietly be re-instated. I can say this as we never seem to see any follow up news regarding the thousands who are banished to an empty desk in that Bitec sized room called "inactive post" most likely with full salary and benefits.

If the new PM wishes to be really admired he may want to really punish those (like face kicking cops) and corrupt others (even up to the very top)by first suspending them without pay, and then based on the circumstance and a fair investigation, a further follow up punishment. Or if serious enough a sacking, with or without benefits.

It is much like the driving rules and other laws on the books and their implementation. When the criminals are never punished, the crime will continue.

Again, it is quite rare to EVER hear of any follow up. I respect the fact that we as foreigners are simply guests in their country but stern action by the new gov't might even impress all classes of Thais. Instead of continuing with the different rules for the "haves, and have-nots".

Just my humble opinion.

[rickirs]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

So four major sackings at the top of the police in one week and not one clearly defined reson for any of them. The public interest is shat on once again.

So in your expert opinion it would have been in the public interest to leave these people in their top police jobs.

We hear all the time that the police force is extremely corrupt and needs a good clean out yet when top police who are presumable among the corrupt are moved on we see some complaining bitterly. You cant have it both ways, either a clean up starts or it doesn't and the top is a great place to start as it sends a clear message that no one is safe and is a huge loss of face for those that have lost their powerful jobs.

Corruption is fought with transparency and accountability.

Yet, by the complete lack of those two elements in these and other actions of sudden and unexplained police reassignments, one can only suspect there may be at best political motivations involved and at worse greater corruption involved. You can't have it both ways. Well, normally. But with the nation under martial law and the Rule of Law driven by Articles 17 and 44 of the Interim Charter giving the NCPO absolute power, transparency and accountability are not instruments against corruption.