New national police chief

20 สิงหาคม 2557

Pol Gen Somyot Pumpunmuang, who led the crackdown on illegal war weapons, selected as the new national police chief.

The National Police Policy Commission has selected Pol Gen Somyot Pumpunmuang as the new national police chief, impressed by his determination in leading the crackdown on illegal war weapons. (Photo by Seksan Rojjanametakul)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Pol Gen Somyot chosen as new police chief

20/08/2014

Somyot Pumpunmuang was chosen by the National Police Policy Commission as the new national police chief on Wednesday, with his ability to work with the military junta among the reasons given to move him into the top job.

The commission, chaired by National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha, ''unanimously agreed'' to promote Pol Gen Somyot from the position of deputy to be the new police chief, acting national police chief Watcharapol Prasarnratchakit said after the meeting.

Pol Gen Somyot competed for the top job with another deputy chief, Pol Gen Ek Angsananond.

Pol Gen Watcharapol said Pol Gen Somyot's skill in leading a campaign to clamp down on illegal weapons impressed the six members of the panel.

Pol Gen Somyot had shown his determination to move the Royal Thai Police Office forward, and his record showed that he could "continue to work with the NCPO" in the future, FM100.5 radio quoted Pol Gen Watcharapon as saying.

He was placed in charge of security after Gen Prayuth, who also is the army chief, seized power on May 22.

The new police chief has close ties with assistant army chief Gen Paiboon Khumchaya and 3rd Army Region commander Preecha Chan-ocha and friends from Class 15 at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, which he attended. Lt Gen Preecha is a younger brother of the coup leader.

Pol Gen Somyot is also seen as having received backing from NCPO chief adviser Gen Prawit Wongsuwan and former national police chief Pol Gen Patcharawas Wongsuwan.

Pol Gen Somyot was born on Dec 27, 1954, and was confirmed as a deputy police chief in 2012.

The new police chief-designate will take up his new position in September. He is due to retire next year.

Pol Gen Ek is tipped to possibly succeed him, as he will retire in 2016.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/427747/pol-gen-somyot-chosen-as-new-chief-of-royal-thai-police