Officer who allegedly threatened Navy lieutenant gets transferred

Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: Lt Somphop Kamkana of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command confirmed that the Army colonel who was recorded allegedly threatening him earlier this month has been transferred to Bangkok.

Lt Somphop was one of the Navy officers that aided in a raid that saw more than 40 suspects apprehended in Chalong on December 6.

“After transferring the suspects to the Chalong Police Station, one of them said that someone wanted to talk to me on the phone,” Lt Somphop said. “The caller introduced himself as an Army officer and proceeded to tell me that the Navy had no right to execute such raids and threatened to have me transferred if I didn’t let the suspects go.”

Lt Somphop declined to name the officer, but referred to him by his nickname, ‘Col Phaek’.

“I learned last week that Col Phaek was transferred from the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 [iSOC4] back to the Office of the Army Secretary in Bangkok, where he was originally from,” Lt Somphop said.

Full story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Officer-allegedly-threatened-Navy-lieutenant-gets-transferred/62712?desktopversion

-- Phuket Gazette 2015-12-24

Some of his 'friends' got rounded up in the raid and he wanted them released?

Maybe some "family" got rounded up also.

Some of his 'friends' got rounded up in the raid and he wanted them released?

Or maybe it interupted his 'cash flow'.

Being transferred back to Bangkok. Isn't that a promotion? The "gravy train" is thicker in Bangkok.

"Col Phaek was transferred from the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 [iSOC4] back to the Office of the Army Secretary in Bangkok"

Recall that arrest warrants were issued in September 2015 for three mid-level army officers (Col. Nattasit Maksuwan, Cpt. Visoot Boonnag and Cpt. Santhat Petchnoi) who also worked for the IOSC, a government counter-insurgency agency operating in the South. One has to wonder if Col Phaek was Col. Maksuwan's replacement.

Also recall the arrest of Lt. General Manus in June 2015 who, before Prayut promoted him to serve as a senior advisor to the Thai army, operated in the South (then an army colonel with ISOC). In 2009 South China Morning Post reported that he orchestrated a secret detention center of Rohingya migrants.

But Phaek gets transferred back to Bangkok.

Another criminal transferred because he was a Army officer. No jail term or no fine just past go. Transfer to another district so he can screw up again. This man will never change unless you take away his power. But since he is a Army baby the Pm will protect him!