Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin today ordered the transfer of two top national police generals, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol and Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, to inactive posts at Government House for two months
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Kitrat Panphet will serve as acting national police chief.
The transfers came after weeks of conflict, during which National Police Chief Torsak and one of his deputies, Surachate, clashed over alleged involvement in online gambling schemes worth millions of Baht.
In an attempt to defuse the widely criticised conflicts, Torsak and Surachate appeared together at a joint press conference today to deny speculation of a high-level conflict within the Royal Thai Police.
They announced that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will investigate the BNK Master online gambling case.
To avoid the impression of conflict within the police service, caused by inappropriate remarks, Pol Gen Torsak stated that he has been communicating with Surachate as usual and has informed Prime Minister Srettha about the case.
With only 194 days left in office before his retirement, he pledged to do his best to resolve the matter first.
Meanwhile, Pol Gen Surachate mentioned that he has not yet received a summons from the Thung Song Hong inquiry officers regarding the charge of money laundering in connection with the online gambling website.
Three of his subordinates have also been implicated in the illegal online gambling business.
