A POLICE colonel who had been dismissed for accompanying fugitive former prime ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra to watch the 2018 World Cup in Russia but later reinstated upon appeal has now be promoted to the rank of deputy commander, INN News and Sanook.com said today (Nov. 16).
This came to light when the list of 1,995 police appointments to ranks of inspector, superintendent and deputy commander was issued under three orders and published in the Royal Thai Police’s Information Division website.
Pol. Col. Watanyu Wittayapalothai, or Superintendent Nui, who was previously based at Special Branch Bureau but was assigned as Yingluck’s bodyguard when she was prime minister, has now been promoted to the rank of deputy commander of the Press Experts Group at the police headquarters.
After photos emerged of him having accompanied the former premiers to Russia and also seen with Yingluck in London in June that year, he underwent serious disciplinary investigation and was dismissed from government service. However he appealed against the dismissal to a subcommittee at the Office of Police Commission for a period of two years.
CAPTION:
Pol. Col. Watanyu guarding former premier Yingluck, top, and with her overseas, Home Page. The Thai headline in the top photo says, “Promoted to deputy commander,” and the Home Page photo, “Superintendent Nui makes a comeback”. Top photo: Matichon and Home Page photo: Sanook.com
