Patcharawat to stay put and face NACC charges

Suthep, who oversees the Royal Thai Police, said the police chief should be busy preparing for questioning by the National Anti-Corruption Commission about the crackdown on anti-government protesters last October.

Patcharawat is one of the people accused of being responsible for the crackdown, which left two people dead and many injured. The accused people include politicians in power at the time and senior police commanders.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that he had no idea if the police chief would be assigned to other jobs in the provinces or overseas, and advised reporters to ask Suthep about the matter.

The police chief was recently sent to China and later to the deep South following allegations of hindering the investigation into the murder attempt of Sondhi Limthongkul, a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy. A caretaker police chief was appointed while Patcharawat was outside Bangkok.

Yesterday, a smiling Patcharawat was seen going to work at the police headquarters.

A source said the police chief would resist any more orders assigning him jobs outside the capital city.

"The police chief said he will not go anywhere else. He will fight back and is not afraid of being removed," the source said, adding that Patcharawat would be testifying before the NACC tomorrow about the October 7 crackdown.

In Parliament yesterday, a group of 10 non-commissioned policemen filed a complaint with the House committee on political development, mass media and public participation, accusing Patcharawat of abusing power.

The group, led by Senior Sergeant Major Rattaphum Phosrida from Ratchaburi province, said the police chief's daughter, Police Lance Corporal Nawaporn Wongsuwan, had been unfairly promoted to the rank of sub-lieutenant.

Rattaphum said that more than 400 other non-commissioned officers were just as qualified but failed to get a promotion. He said that his group would today file a similar complaint with the NACC, adding that they had already submitted their grievances with the Royal Thai Police and other relevant agencies but no action had been taken.

Patcharawat, who is scheduled for mandatory retirement at the end of September, refused to answer when asked about the allegations yesterday. He would also not confirm that he would be testifying before the NACC today.

In a related development, Chalerm Yoobamrung, chief MP of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, said at the meeting of the House of Representatives tomorrow, he would question the prime minister about the government's alleged interference in police work.