The court found Maj-General Kattiya Sawatdipol had damaged the reputation of former commissioner Sant.

Kattiya, an Internal Security Operation Command officer, said he would appeal the ruling.

He asserted he was within his Constitutional rights to seek the removal of Sant.

It was that action that prompted Sant to sue Kattiya for defamation in October 2004.

Neither Sant nor Kattiya were present at the reading of the verdict yesterday.

The court said it found Kattiya damaged Sant's reputation by launching a signature campaign in late 2003 seeking to have Sant removed from his post.

Kattiya must also pay interest on the Bt20 million at the rate of 7.5 per cent per year from the day the action was filed and until restitution is completed.

Kattiya must also publish the court's ruling in major daily newspapers for three consecutive days. And he was ordered to pay the plaintiff's legal costs.

The Isoc officer commenced his campaign to have Sant removed as commissioner of the national police in September 2003 by approaching then Senate President Manoonkrit Roopkachorn with his intention to collect the mandatory 50,000 signatures from the public.

Kattiya alleged Sant was a corrupt official and, among other things, was implicated along with former massage-parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit in the illegal dawn demolition of an entertainment area called Sukhumvit Square in January of 2003.

Kattiya has waged a long-running battle with Sant and made several allegations against him when he was police chief, including wrongful arrest and intimidation.