Bangkok: The Prime Minister made a direct call to the Police Chief to address the issue of the photo showing "Chalong" smoking a cigarette and not being handcuffed at the police station. Police General Kittirat Phanphet, the National Police Chief, revealed that the Prime Minister had telephoned to emphasize the importance of police conduct in response to the image showing Chalong Riangrang, the suspect in the fatal shooting of Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organization President, smoking a cigarette while being interrogated at Rattanathibet Police Station without being handcuffed.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Gen. Kittirat stated that he has accepted the order and instructed Pol. Gen. Itthipol Achariyaprasit, the Inspector General of the National Police, to immediately set up a committee to investigate the facts. He emphasized that everything must be in accordance with the law and regulations, and if any wrongdoing is found to fall under Section 157, there will be no leniency, even if the commanding officer in the area is a senior officer.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also emphasized the need for searches and checkpoints to prevent the carrying of weapons. The Commissioner General of Police acknowledged that this is a difficult task, but police officers must utilize their skills and intelligence to suppress the crime and prevent a recurrence.
Furthermore, when asked about the news reports that the FBI had provided a tip leading to a search of the home of the perpetrator in the Thepsirin Nonthaburi School shooting, the Commissioner General of Police confirmed that he had not yet received the report, but had ordered Pol. Gen. Thana Chuwong and Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitanilabutr, Deputy Commissioners General of Police, to personally oversee the case. He concluded by emphasizing that under the Thai sky, there is nothing that Thai police cannot do.