By Thai Newsroom Reporters
POL.COL.PADTHONGTEW DAMAPONG, nephew of de facto Pheu Thai boss/convict at large Thaksin Shinawatra’s former spouse Potjaman Damapong, has defended himself over his otherwise contentious transfer as immigration superintendent at Phuket airport.
The police colonel today (Dec.3) posted on his Facebook page to say he has been named immigration superintendent for Phuket airport whilst another police colonel has resigned after he had performed as immigration superintendent for Phuket province.
The newly-named immigration superintendent for Phuket airport was apparently referring to Pol.Col.Thanet Sukchai, the former immigration superintendent for Phuket province who has called it quits in what was seen as a tacit protest of his having been transferred from the tourist island to Hua Hin.
According to Potjaman’s nephew, his recent transfer to Phuket airport and the resignation of the former immigration superintendent for Phuket province were apparently a coincidence regardless of his being related to the de facto Pheu Thai boss’s former spouse. The police superintendent in charge of immigration for Phuket province is definitely not the one who is in charge of immigration for Phuket airport, he said.
Pol.Col.Padthongtew said the difference between Phuket airport and Phuket province could probably confuse members of the public with himself being unduly taken to task on social media.
Nevertheless, criticism of alleged cronyism in the bureaucratic circles have gone viral on social media with the latest transfer of Potjaman’s nephew as immigration superintendent for Phuket airport since Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has earlier pledged to rid the whole police rank and file of it.
Srettha was earlier alleged of having practically succumbed to cronyism when he earlier told Pheu Thai MPs during a partisan meeting that they had made “too many” hush-hush requests for him to manage to promote superintendents to be in charge of police stations in their respective constituencies and that some among the government lawmakers would be pleased while others would be disappointed.
Srettha was allegedly promoted by deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of the de facto Pheu Thai boss/convict at large, as one of a trio of Pheu Thai partisan candidates for prime minister alongside Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra who was unrivaled to take over the party’s top leadership.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Pol. Col. Padthongtew Damapong with Thaksin Shinawatra’s former spouse Potjaman Damapong, and a colleague, right.
Front Page: Two images of Pol. Col. Padthongtew Damapong. Both photos: Thai Rath
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