The police panel probing the alleged mishandling of the 2012 hit-and-run case wrapped up its investigation on Wednesday, having found twenty police to be negligent.
Assistant national police chief Pol Lt Gen Jaruwat Waisaya, deputy chairman of the panel, said they produced a flawed report which led to public prosecutors deciding not to indict Red Bull scion Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya on a reckless driving causing death charge.
The panel plans to forward its findings to national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda to consider ordering a disciplinary probe against the police, some of whom are now retired, said Pol Lt Gen Jaruwat.
Of the 20 implicated, 11 were members of the police's first team of investigators handling the case and the rest were members of a second police team formed to take over the probe from the first. Two of the policemen named were a police lieutenant general and a police major general, he said. They were found to have failed to ensure the investigation into the case was strictly implemented and failed to produce a complete report, he said.
They may also face some criminal charges and a further investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), he said.
Some of the 11 police and former police in the first investigation have already faced legal action by the NACC, he said. This investigation into alleged mishandling of the case was final, he said.
To date, three panels have been formed to look into the dropping of the reckless driving causing death charge. One was set up by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the others were launched by the Office of the Attorney-General and the Royal Thai Police Office.
