Chanthep gets metro police job
The Police Commission has appointed Provincial Police Region 1 chief Chanthep Sesawech as new Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner, and transferred Immigration Bureau chief Nathathorn Prousoontorn to the post of assistant national police chief, a police source says.
Pol Lt Gen Chanthep will succeed outgoing city police chief Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahathavorn who will retire next month while Provincial Police Region 7 chief Pol Lt Gen Sutthiphong Wongpin will replace Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn, whose failure to handle overcrowding at Don Mueang airport earlier this month is believed to be a reason for his job change, the source said after the commission’s meeting yesterday.
They are among 183 senior officers on the 2017 police reshuffle list, proposed by national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda. It is the transfer of positions at the top level from division commanders to deputy national police chiefs.
The meeting was “well done”, said deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon who chaired the Police Commission yesterday.
The commission resolved to “give the green light to the 183 posts” suggested by the national police chief, he said.
Earlier, Special Branch Bureau chief Suwat Chaengyotsuk, a friend of Pol Gen Chaktip in class 36 of the Royal Police Cadet Academy, was tipped to oversee the MPB, but, according to the source, Pol Gen Chaktip eventually decided to give the post to Pol Lt Gen Chanthep and appoint Pol Lt Gen Suwat as Provincial Police Region 1 chief.
Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn was also reportedly picked to continue his leadership at the Immigration Bureau. However, the source said, the government was dissatisfied with the immigration management at Don Mueang airport. That was why the commission decided to choose Provincial Police Region 7 chief Pol Lt Gen Sutthiphong to be in charge of the bureau.
Many foreign travellers were frustrated when they were forced to wait for up to five hours before having their passports checked at the airport. Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn admitted later the hours-long wait resulted from a staff shortage. Pol Gen Chaktip said he needed to make a change at the top of the Immigration Bureau to find an officer who is “suitable and active” in solving overcrowding and immigration control at airports.
Other positions in there shuffle include deputy city police chief which was given to Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpal, chief of the Patrol and Special Operation Division.