Yingluck’s ‘guard’ suspended
A police colonel seen with two fugitive former prime ministers — Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck — at the Fifa World Cup in Russia last week has been suspended from duty pending an inquiry.
Pol Col Watanyu Witthayapalothai was spotted with Yingluck in London in June and snapped with the two siblings during last Wednesday’s game when Croatia eliminated England in their semifinal clash.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who supervises the police force, said Pol Col Watanyu had been relieved of all duties.
A panel has been set up to look into his conduct, he added.
Both former politicians have arrest warrants in their names.
Thaksin is wanted for fleeing the country before he was sentenced for abusing his authority regarding his then-wife’s purchase of state land. Yingluck is sought for negligence of duty in her government’s rice-pledging scheme, for which she was later charged in absentia.
Pol Col Watanyu works at the research and development department of t he Special Branch Bureau. He was assigned to serve as Yingluck’s bodyguard when she was prime minister and is said to have earned the trust of the Shinawatra clan.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said on June 27 that Pol Col Watanyu had requested leave from June 25 to July 13 to arrange a study programme for his son in London.
He has returned to Thailand, according to the deputy prime minister.