Pol Gen Kitrat Panphet, the current national police chief, has issued the order to suspend deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn and four other police officers who are accused of being involved in money laundering related to an online gambling network.
The suspension takes effect immediately on April 18th. The other four police officers are: Pol Col Kittichai Sangkhathaworn, Pol Lt Col Krit Pariyaket, Pol Sgt Natthawut Wadwaew and Pol Sgt Natthanan Chuchak.
Pol Gen Kitrat confirms that everything is being carried out in accordance with the law and police procedures.
He also stresses that, as the acting police chief, he has full authority.
Pol Gen Kitrat mentioned that he had informed the prime minister so that Pol Gen Surachate can be moved from his inactive post at the Office of the Prime Minister back to the Royal Thai Police headquarters while the disciplinary investigation continues.
He mentioned that the suspension order is issued since the investigation might take a significant amount of time, during which, the five accused police officers still have the right to appeal.
