Major Restructuring in Tak as Five Senior Officers are Transferred Amid Investigations
PUBLISHED : 12 Feb 2025 at 21:13
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has established a committee to investigate potential connections between senior officers and criminal activities in Myanmar. This announcement follows the transfer of five senior officers in Tak, including one known for extraordinary wealth, as part of ongoing investigations.
Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, will lead the investigative panel, emphasizing the need for efficiency and justice for all parties involved.
Among those under scrutiny is Pol Maj Gen Ekkarat Intasueb, the acting chief of Inspection Division 6, whose jurisdiction covers seven provinces, including Tak. He has been temporarily reassigned to Bangkok on the orders of Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch, the national police chief.
Local reports indicate that Pol Maj Gen Ekkarat owns an opulent mansion featuring a waterfall and a golf driving range, although he usually resides in police quarters assigned to the Mae Sot chief.
“Our investigation will rely heavily on evidence, and I assure that all parties will receive fair treatment,” stated Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat.
Another officer transferred to Bangkok was Pol Maj Gen Samrit Emkamol, commander of Tak Provincial Police. This move follows the reassignment of superintendents from Mae Sot, Mae Ramat, and Phob Phra district police stations to Tak provincial police office, as part of an inquiry into the potential involvement of police in the disappearance of Chinese tourists lured by call center scams.
Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai clarified that the transfers do not imply that all officers are implicated. He highlighted the urgent need for investigations into the high incidence of transnational crime within their jurisdictions.
These personnel changes coincide with a renewed government initiative to address scam syndicates operating out of Myanmar, sparked by the high-profile rescue of a trafficked Chinese actor, which garnered international attention.
The government has also taken drastic measures, including cutting electricity and internet access in five border areas suspected of harboring these criminal organizations. In a related operation, 261 foreigners were repatriated to Thailand from Myawaddy as these service disruptions reportedly hindered the operations of scam centers.
