Thai Prime Minister (PM) Srettha Thavisin called for senior Royal Thai Police (RTP) commanders to show “unity in the police force” during a meeting at the RTP headquarters in Bangkok. Srettha held the meeting after he transferred RTP chief General Torsak Sukvimol and deputy chief General Surachate Hakparn to the PM’s Office on March 20th.
The PM asked the commanders “for unity among all of you. I believe that the Royal Thai Police is aware of the ongoing problem.” He also pointed out that while they have “love for certain colleagues and subordinates,” they should not speak their thoughts publicly. Srettha also said that he is not taking a side and that the RTP and him “should focus on serving the public” to do its work with “dignity.”
Srettha said that the commanders should focus on solving various problems such as illegal lending, contraband smuggling, illegal gambling, drugs, illegal firearms and war weapons, and illegal tourism businesses.
The PM removed both Torsak and Surachate due to the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation into Surachate regarding allegations that he and four other senior officers accepted bribes from an operator of an illegal gambling site.
