Region 8 Provincial Police commissioner axed over meeting leaks
The commissioner of the Region 8 Provincial Police Bureau, Pol. Lt Gen. Sitthichai Lokanphai, has been transferred to an ‘inactive post’, at the Operations Centre of the Royal Thai Police, over leaks on social media of details of a recent meeting of senior police officers.
A fact-finding committee has also been set up to look into the matter.
An order, signed yesterday by Police General Kitrat Phanphet, the national police chief, states that the leaks on social media of the content of an internal meeting of the Region 8 Provincial Police Bureau may tarnish the image of the police force and erode public trust and confidence in the organisation.
To prevent a repeat of such a lapse in the protection of confidential state information, the order states that it is necessary to transfer Sitthichai until September 30, unless there is any change to the order.
The order also appoints Pol. Lt-Gen. Suraphong Thanomchit, currently the national assistant police chief, to succeed Sitthichai in an acting capacity, effective June 19.