Prayut targets cops who buy positions
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha vowed yesterday to take tough action against any police officers found guilty of involvement in position buying within the police force.
He was responding to claims by former Democrat MP Witthaya Kaewparadai that the practice was rampant in police transfers and promotions last year.
Gen Prayut thanked Mr Witthaya for drawing attention to the issue and providing information on it, saying he has received many complaints about corruption of this kind.
“This time, [those responsible] must be caught,” Gen Prayut said.
His remarks come as Pol Lt Gen Thesa Siriwatho, the chief of Provincial Police Region 8, was recently transferred to an inactive post pending an investigation into his alleged role in position buying.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who oversees the Royal Thai Police, said yesterday there were reasonable grounds for the probe and transfer.
“Anyone involved in position buying will be dealt with,” he said.
But Gen Prawit dismissed as baseless claims by Mr Witthaya that position buying is rife among Bangkok police.
Pol Lt Gen Thesa has been transferred to the Royal Thai Police Operations Centre until further notice.
A fact-finding committee will be set up to look into the allegations against him. National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda ordered the transfer to take effect on Monday.
Pol Lt Gen Thanet Phinmuangngam, an assistant national police chief, has been appointed acting chief of Provincial Police Region 8.
Pol Lt Gen Thesa is believed to have close ties with Suthep Thaugsuban, the former leader of the disbanded People’s Democratic Reform Committee protest group.
Pol Maj Gen Nithas Limsiriphan, deputy commander of the Royal Thai Police’s Office of Human Resources, yesterday asked the police inspector-general to report the findings to the police chief within 15 days.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Sanit Mahathavorn denied yesterday Mr Witthaya’s claim that position buying was twice as high among city police as in Provincial Police Region 8.
On Monday, a deputy police spokesman said preliminary inquiries would first determine whether the claims were true.
The reaction of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon to allegations of position buying in the police force has been a major letdown to the public. Gen Prawit, the regime’s “big brother” who oversees police affairs, tersely denied the allegations, which initially came from former Democrat MP Witthaya Kaewparadai. Mr Witthaya alleged that more than 50 million baht had likely been spent on position-buying in the annual round of police transfers and promotions in 2016.
According to Mr Witthaya, the price to secure a superintendent position could reach as much as 5 million baht to 7 million baht, while a police inspector position could range from 1.5 million baht to 2 million baht.
He pointed a finger at Provincial Police Region 8, which oversees the southern provinces, saying dozens of officers are known to have paid money to their superiors to be promoted but not all were given their desired posts.
The former Nakhon Sri Thammarat MP said position buying is rampant.
Meanwhile, Gen Prawit said he has no idea how position buying in the police force can possibly have taken place. He also encouraged those aware of or involved in the practice to report any wrongdoing.
He said he had confidence in his subordinates that everything is above board.
Yet such remarks make Gen Prawit look naive to many onlookers.
Hours after he made the remarks, national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda signed an order to transfer Pol Lt Gen Thesa Siriwatho, the Provincial Police Region 8 commander, to an inactive post and ordered an investigation into Mr Witthaya’s allegations within 15 days.
The deputy prime minister’s reaction to this scandal is reminiscent of politicians’ reactions. When faced with similar accusations in the past, politicians have demanded evidence — such as receipts they knew did not exist. None have bothered to find information that would disprove the allegations. But it is well known that those involved in corruption, bribery or position buying never leave any evidence, especially receipts.
Isn’t it the duty of government officers or law enforcers to find evidence to counter those allegations?
Gen Prawit’s initial reaction to the position-buying allegations was comparable to trying to tackle crime by calling on criminals to surrender to authorities. If such measures actually worked, there would be little need for a police force.
Yet the deputy premier admitted yesterday the commander of Provincial Police Region 8 was transferred to an inactive post to allow for an inquiry into his alleged role in position buying within his unit.
Position-buying in the police force seems to be an issue we must deal with repeatedly. Several senior police officers have confirmed that it does happen. They include former national police chief Seripisuth Temiyavej and Pol Maj Gen Wisut Wanichbutr, an outspoken officer who ended up resigning from the force.
Last year, a police captain in Bangkok lodged a complaint against a colleague whom he accused of deceiving him into paying 700,000 baht for a promotion. That colleague claimed he was connected to a top police officer who could land him the job.
This case may have been a swindle, but how could a police officer who received a monthly salary of no more than 30,000 baht afford 700,000 baht if he was not confident that such a practice existed and that his offer would not go unanswered?
Early this year, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha invoked the special power of Section 44 to reorganise the police appointment process to prevent position buying. Under the order, the procedure was decentralised with the formation of committees tasked with candidate screening. Those who feel they have been treated unfairly when it comes to promotions can lodge complaints with the Justice Ministry’s anti-graft centre.
The order authorises the police chief, or an assignee of commissioner rank or higher, to approve senior appointments.
Before these are approved the names of officers shortlisted for promotion must be vetted by a screening panel from their respective unit, instead of sending all the lists to the Police Commission in Bangkok for consideration.
Although it remains unclear if the new process can effectively prevent position buying, at least it shows that such wrongdoing is a problem which needs to be rooted out.
Gen Prawit, as the regime’s big brother, has gained much respect from high-ranking state officers and cabinet members, including the prime minister.
He is supposed to act as a role model, taking full responsibility for state problems. The public expects him to tackle them rather than let the problems go unsolved.
There are rumours that the 71-year-old deputy prime minister, who is reportedly in poor health, might give up the position of defence minister and retain only the deputy prime minister post.
Yet his poor handling of the police scandal seems to suggest he should consider taking a rest.
He is supposed to act as a role model, taking full responsibility for state problems.