Army Commander-in-Chief General Apirat Kongsompong has ordered legal action to be taken against Seri Ram Thai party leader Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavej for allegedly insulting an army officer and his army insignia.

A well-informed army source said that General Apirat had ordered the filing of a police complaint accusing the former national police chief of making damaging and insulting remarks in an interview with a local newspaper.

Since the alleged remarks were shared on social media, Seripisut also faces a charge of violation of the Computer Crimes Act, said the source.

The army chief also ordered legal action to be taken against Pol Gen Seripisut for allegedly insulting an army officer assigned to provide security to him during his campaign visit to the eastern province of Prachin Buri on Monday.

Earlier today, army spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree said that the assignment of an army officer to provide security forpoliticians while campaigning was a normal practice and the officer in question was merely performing his duty.

Despite being reprimanded by Seripisut, he said the junior officer remained polite and respectful towards the former police chief who, however, was allegedly aggressive and disrespectful towards the officer.