Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin today instructed senior police officers to refrain from speaking to the media or providing updates on the BNKMaster online gambling case, aiming to reduce internal tensions within the police force while the case is under review by a specially assembled fact-finding committee.
The committee members include Chatchai Promlert, former interior permanent secretary, Chartpong Jiraphan, former deputy attorney-general, and Pol Gen Winai Thongsong, former deputy national police chief.
Prior to presiding over a meeting of the Police Commission today, the prime minister informed the media that, due to an issue in the Royal Thai Police, he needed to intervene.
As the legal process is already underway, he explained that it was necessary for him to direct senior police officers involved in the conflict to refrain from discussing the matter with the media in a way that implicates either Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, the national police chief, or his deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.
Surachate is currently facing allegations of money laundering in connection to the BNKMaster online gambling site. During a recent press conference, his lawyer alleged the involvement of additional senior officers in the online gambling operation.
While awaiting the findings of the fact-finding panel's investigation, the prime minister stated that he has ordered the reassignments of Torsak and Surachate to support work at the PM’s Office for 60 days, as he wishes to prevent internal conflict among officers, which would be detrimental. He also emphasized his desire to avoid senior officers attempting to exert influence over their subordinates.
Srettha provided assurance that both officers will receive fair treatment.
