Pol Gen Samran Nualma has been selected unanimously as Thailand’s next national police chief, succeeding Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch when he retires on Sept 30.
The decision was endorsed on Wednesday by the Police Commission following a proposal by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who chairs the commission.
At 53, Pol Gen Samran was the youngest among the known contenders for the position. He is scheduled to retire in 2033, giving him potential for an unusually long tenure compared with his predecessors, most of which were 58 or 59 when appointed.
The commission considered candidates in accordance with legal procedures, assessing seniority alongside knowledge, ability and experience in criminal investigations and crime suppression, said Pol Lt Gen Thayut Chanthaworn, commissioner attached to the Police Commission Office.
“The commission reviewed all the relevant information from every angle … and reached a unanimous decision,” he said.
According to Pol Lt Gen Thayut, the four deputy chiefs eligible for consideration left the meeting room before deliberations began. The 12 commissioners all voted in favour of Pol Gen Samran’s appointment.
The job of national police chief comes with a base salary of 78,000 baht per month. However, position and meeting allowances plus funds for special operations usually bring total monthly income to between 120,000 and 150,000 baht.
Seniority not the sole factor
Questions had been raised about the selection of Pol Gen Samran, who ranked third in seniority among the candidates, and whether the appointment complied with the 2022 Royal Thai Police Act.
Pol Lt Gen Thayut said the law allows the prime minister to exercise discretion when nominating a candidate, taking seniority into account alongside professional competence, particularly experience in investigation and crime prevention.
He added that concerns over possible legal challenges or divisions within the force had also been discussed.
“Only one of the four candidates could be selected. The prime minister and commissioners are confident that police officers will continue to work together in unity for the organisation,” he said.
Before the meeting, Mr Anutin held a 30-minute consultation with the commission’s 12 expert members. The four candidates were barred from participating in the vote.
Long career in policing
A native of Phetchaburi province, Pol Gen Samran graduated from Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School Class 34 and the Royal Thai Police Cadet Academy Class 50.
He earned master’s and doctoral degrees from Ramkhamhaeng University and is currently studying law at Thammasat University.
Throughout his career, Pol Gen Samran has risen through the ranks from investigative and patrol assignments. He has served as chief of Don Muang police station, commander of the Patrol and Special Operations Division, better known as the 191 Police, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, assistant national police chief and, since Oct 1 last year, deputy national chief.
He has also completed a range of advanced training programmes in Thailand and abroad, including VIP protection, FBI Active Shooter Response training and programmes at the Sig Sauer Academy in the United States.
High-profile cases
Pol Gen Samran is widely known for his role in several major criminal and national security investigations.
His career highlights include helping direct tactical operations during the 2020 mass shooting at Terminal 21 in Nakhon Ratchasima, leading investigations into an international drug-smuggling ring following the arrest of a Thai flight attendant in Australia, overseeing crackdowns on Chinese-linked criminal networks accused of exploiting Thai nationality registration systems, and pursuing corruption cases involving fraudulent civil registration schemes.
