08.09.09 NACC finds against police chief
Ruling likely to favour PM's choice of Pateep
A National Anti-Corruption Commission ruling against national police
chief Patcharawat Wongsuwon could tip the scales on the selection of
his successor.
The NACC has charged Pol Gen Patcharawat and then metropolitan
police chief Suchart Mueankaew with committing criminal and
disciplinary offences in connection with the crackdown on protesters
led by the People's Alliance for Democracy at Government House on Oct 7
last year.
It has also brought criminal charges against former prime minister
Somchai Wongsawat and his deputy prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh
for their part in the crackdown.
A police source said Pol Gen Patcharawat would be suspended from duty as police chief pending a trial.
Puea Thai Party MP for Nakhon Ratchasima and former police officer
Somchai Phetprasert said Pol Gen Patcharawat would be sidelined from a
meeting of the 11-member board of the Royal Thai Police Office to
select the new police chief as a result of the charges.
He said this would divide the votes equally for inspector-general
Pateep Tanprasert who is being backed for the position by Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Of the 11 board members present at the last board meeting on Aug 20,
five voted against the appointment of Pol Gen Pateep while four voted
for him. Mr Abhisit and one other member abstained.
Pol Gen Patcharawat was among the majority of board members who
rejected Pol Gen Pateep. They favoured deputy police chief Chumpol
Manmai.
Pol Lt Col Somchai said efforts had also been made to pressure
permanent secretary for interior Wichai Srikwan to vote for Pol Gen
Pateep.
If Mr Wichai, one of the majority board members who voted against
Pol Gen Pateep, continued to refuse to support Pol Gen Pateep, he could
earn the wrath of senior figures in government and land himself in
trouble over the Alpine land saga. This could cost him his job, Pol Lt
Col Somchai said.
NACC spokesman Klanarong Chanthik said the national anti-graft body
would put forward its case against the four to the Office of the
Attorney-General.
He said the public prosecution would have to consider within 30 days
whether to submit the cases to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division
for Holders of Political Positions.
The NACC will also send its recommendations regarding the
disciplinary charges against the two senior police officers to the
premier to consider disciplinary action against them.
Mr Klanarong said even though Gen Chavalit resigned as deputy prime
minister after the crackdown, this did not mean he could escape
responsibility for the damage resulting from his order for police to
clear the way for lawmakers to enter parliament on Oct 7.
Mr Klanarong said inquiries found Pol Gen Patcharawat did nothing to stop the violent crackdown.
He said Pol Gen Patcharawat was duty-bound to ensure the safety of people when dealing with demonstrations.
Mr Klanarong said the NACC had dropped charges brought against
deputy police chief Viroj Phaholvej and deputy metropolitan police
chiefs including Pol Maj Gen Likhit Klin-ouan, Pol Maj Gen Akekarat
Meepreecha, Pol Maj Gen Wibul Bangthamai and Pol Maj Gen Chakthip
Chaijinda and members of the security forces on duty that day as there
was no evidence linking them to the incident.
Gen Chavalit yesterday said he was disappointed with the NACC ruling.
He said he had testified before the agency that he had not ordered
the security forces to use force against the protesters. He said he
would fight in court to prove his innocence.
Mr Somchai said the NACC had not summoned him to present his version
of the events and defend himself. He also said he would fight the
charges.
Pol Gen Patcharawat said he would continue to perform his duties as
national police chief until he received a legal order suspending him
from duty.
At dawn on Oct 7, riot police fired tear gas at thousands of PAD protesters who had sealed the entrances to parliament.
In the melee that followed, two demonstrators were killed and hundreds of protesters and police were injured. Source: Bangkok Post, 08.09.09 http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/23438/nacc-finds-against-police-chief
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