>> Democrat Party deputy leader Witthaya Kaewparadai, who publicised allegations of position buying in Provincial Police Region 8 recently, yesterday challenged the Royal Thai Police (RTP) to look into also possible position brokering in other regional police headquarters.
His remarks came only a couple of days before a scheduled reshuffle of about 100 positions of senior police officials and while the RTP is pursuing legal action against him for allegedly defaming the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB).
Following his disclosure of information regarding the alleged position buying in the Provincial Police Region 8, the RTP set up a fact-finding panel to investigate, said Mr Witthaya.
The RTP will have to wait for the panel to finish its work before any decisions as to whether legal action will be taken against the suspects are made, said Mr Witthaya.
"I've always insisted that position buying doesn't exist only in the Provincial Police Region 8, so any attempt to divert the public attention solely to this regional police precinct may be seen as a bid to cover up misconduct elsewhere," he said.
Earlier this month, police inspector-general Panya Mamen revealed that a probe into allegations of position buying in the Provincial Police Region 8 has been completed, with one senior police officer, a police lieutenant colonel and a police major implicated.
He said the result of the probe was submitted to national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda on July 26 after a panel found there were grounds to launch a disciplinary investigation into the three officers.
Pol Gen Panya declined to disclose their names. He added it is up to Pol Gen Chakthip to consider whether to transfer the three officers out of Provincial Police Region 8.
He added the investigation panel questioned a total of 114 witnesses as well as Mr Witthaya, who brought the matter to the police's attention.
