The chief of Mukdahan immigration office, his deputy, and an immigration police officer will be transferred to other posts, after seven Uighur detainees escaped from detention on Tuesday night.
One detainee was re-apprehended shortly after the escape, but six others remain on the run, local police said on Wednesday.
Issued by the chief of the Immigration Bureau Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, the order seeks the immediate transfer of Mukdahan Immigration office chief Pol Col Komen Suphap -- as well as Pol Lt Col Thirawat Thipthana and Pol Lt Col Udon Chaokhaek -- to the Bureau's operations centre as an investigation into the escape takes place.
Following the escape, Pol Lt Gen Surachate said the Immigration Bureau is considering whether to limit the number of Uighur detainees at each immigration facility to between five and seven, to better monitor the detainees' activities and movements.
Officers at Songkhla and Nong Khai immigration offices have also been transferred and investigated over similar mistakes, he said.
The escape occurred around 7pm on Tuesday.
Police said one of the Uighur detainees tricked the on-duty officer to leave the room without locking the door.
The detainees made their escape as soon as the officer left the cell.
Pol Col Komen said he had received a report that the officer on duty had forgotten to lock the door behind him.
Security camera footage is now being examined as the probe gets underway, he said.
Copies of the photos of the Uighurs have been distributed as the hunt for them continues, he said.
