The Judicial Commission has assigned a team of senior judges to investigate allegations a regional chief judge threw a tantrum when he was asked by a Nakhon Si Thammarat policeman to produce his driving licence.
His blunt refusal to do so and his claim that he was a "friend" of the policeman's boss has sparked outrage among netizens, who saw a video clip of the incident on May 2 and urged the Office of the Judiciary and the Royal Thai Police to take immediate action.
The judge, Krairat Veerapatanasuwan, is head of the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, Region 8, while the senior police officer he mentioned was named as Pol Col Chokdee Rakwatanapong, head of Thung Yai Police Station in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Thung Yai district.
Both are being investigated separately.
The Judicial Commission, led by Supreme Court president Cheep Jullamon, resolved to establish the panel after discussing an explanation provided by Judge Krairat last Friday, Sarawut Benjakul, secretary-general of the Office of the Judiciary said on Monday.
Mr Sarawut had earlier signed an order demanding Judge Krairat to explain himself.
His side of the story is needed when "an important or serious incident occurs involving judicial organisations or judges", Mr Sarawut said, without revealing what Judge Krairat said.
He only said the probe will take between 30 and 45 days. It will be conducted by Appeal or Supreme Court judges because of Judge Krairat's seniority.
The findings will then be scrutinised before being forwarded to the 15-member commission, Mr Sarawut said.
Meanwhile, the Thung Yai police chief will be questioned as part of a police investigation.
Chief investigator Pol Col Sukkasem Nakhonvilai said on Monday the panel will ask Pol Col Chokdee for information after he returns from a holiday.
According to an initial investigation, Judge Krairat claimed "Choke", believed to be the moniker of Pol Col Chokdee, was his friend when Pol Lance Corporal Ekkapol Juisongkaew signalled him to pull over and asked for his driving licence on May 2 in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Judge Krairat was allowed to proceed by another higher-ranking policeman.
Pol L/C Ekkapol was transferred by Pol Col Chokdee a day later so he could learn to be "more respectful while on duty".
