Summons for ‘Big Joke’, four others Pheu Thai to tout performance

A Royal Thai Police disciplinary probe panel will issue a summons for suspended deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn and four other police officers to acknowledge a critical disciplinary violation accusation, deputy national chief Pol Gen Sarawut Kanpanich said yesterday.

Pol Gen Sarawut was assigned by acting national police chief Pol Gen Kitrat Panphet to chair the probe panel against the five officers accused of being connected with the BNK Master gambling website on April 18, the same day that Pol Gen Surachate’s suspension order was issued.

Pol Gen Sarawut gave an update after the first panel meeting yesterday, saying that the police officers, including Pol Gen Surachate, will be summoned to meet with the panel on May 7. The date was set by a deadline given in the Audit and Monitoring Committees of Police Administration Regulations on Probe and Investigation.

The regulation ordered the acknowledgement to occur 15 days after the panel was established, or April 22 in this case.

The five officers can postpone the summons if necessary, but not more than the deadline of 270 days per the regulations, Pol Gen Sarawut said.

Regarding Pol Gen Surachate’s attempt to submit a petition to probe one of the 14-panel members whom he claimed to have a personal conflict, Pol Gen Sarawut said it was up to the acting national police chief to decide on that member’s qualifications.

Pol Gen Surachate said he ordered one of his subordinates to pack his stuff in his office at the Royal Thai Police and return his government car on April 19, a day after his suspension was issued.

Pol Gen Surachate also revealed that he is eyeing registering for the senatorial election, saying that he wants to work for the public’s benefit as much as he can.

The Pheu Thai Party will hold an event on Friday to highlight its achievements over the past 10 months and showcase the vision of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

According to Pheu Thai secretarygeneral Sorawong Thienthong, the event will be called “10 Months Without Waiting, Moving Forward to Achieve 10 out of 10”.

Several key party figures are expected to speak at the event, including PM Srettha and Ms Paetongtarn, who will be presenting their vision for the country.

The party will use the event to introduce candidates who wish to run in the election of provincial administrative organisations (PAO) chairman, which is tentatively scheduled to take place next year, he said.

The Pheu Thai secretary-general also said the party will launch the “Pheu Thai Party Academy” at the event, though he stopped short of giving more details about the academy.

The party’s deputy secretary-general, Sriyada Palimaphan, said the party would be outlining its plan to improve the 30-baht universal health coverage (UHC) scheme at the event.

Under the revised scheme, which is currently being tested in some provinces, registered hospitals can share their patients’ medical records, which enables patients to opt for treatments at a different hospital without the need to create a new medical record.

Ms Sriyada said the party will also highlight its soft power policy, which the government hopes will be able to help the country bring in more revenues by promoting the country’s unique cultural aspects.

Meanwhile, Khattiya Sawatdipol, the party’s deputy spokeswoman, said the Pheu Thai-led government led by Mr Srettha would proactively push for the people’s version of the country’s constitution as the party had promised.

She said only with the full support from the people will the party be able to push for such a constitution within the current government’s four-year term.

Chanin Rungtanakiat, deputy spokesman of the party, said that the party will give a detailed summary of its efforts to develop the country’s transport and logistics network, including the construction of high-speed rail systems, the Laem Chabang deep-sea port, and improvements to the country’s major international airports at Friday’s event.

The party’s next steps for its 10,000baht digital wallet scheme will also be discussed at the event, he said.