Prayut signals end to police conflict with Pachun

Adm Pachun Tamprateep is embraced by a supporter after he arrived at the Government Complex on Thursday to hear charges against him by Technology Crime Suppression Division police. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is hoping for a compromise between an aide to Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda and the police force in their dispute over position-buying allegations.


Gen Prayut said on Friday that he had talked to his deputy about the dispute and expressed his wish to bring an end to the conflict, which has led to a criminal defamation charge.


"I have talked to the deputy prime minister about the need to talk this thing over. I don't want to see the conflict go on," he said in his Returning Happiness to All Thais weekly broadcast.

The prime minister did not mention any names but he was referring to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. Gen Prawit uis backing the Royal Thai Police Office in its conflict with Pachun Tamprateep.

The conflict began after Adm Pachun, who also sits in the National Reform Steering Assembly, posted a message on his Line account last month about an army general allegedly demanding money from police officers in exchange for their higher positions.

The RTPO countered by filing a defamation complaint as well as one of violating the Computer Crime Act for posting the offending message online. Gen Prawit, who oversees the police force, denied the accusation and supported the police to take action.

The police maintain that the allegations of position-buying hurt the image of the force, though Adm Pachun is hardly the first person to raise them. The issue has been in the news for decades and comes up almost every year during promotion season.

Adm Pachun acknowledged the charges on Thursday and vowed to fight them until the end. He could face a maximum jail term of five years and a fine of 100,000 baht if he is found guilty.

But Gen Prawit apparently softened his position on Friday as he dropped a hint that the two sides could compromise.

It was possible for the police force to reconsider the charges against the retired admiral by looking at his intentions, he said earlier at the Defence Ministry.

Gen Prawit's stance was reflected in the prime minister's tone later Friday evening, when he said on his TV programme that judges already have too many cases in hand to handle.

"Talk if we can. Please don't use laws to fight against each other," the prime minister said.

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-Bangkok Post