Chalerm holds sword over Wichean's head

National police chief Wichean Potephosree will likely be removed from his position in a week, according to Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is escortedbynational police chief Wichean Potephosree to a Police Commission meeting at the Royal Thai Police Office yesterday. It wasthe first timeMsYingluck has visited the office since taking up the premiership. APICHART JINAKUL

Pol Capt Chalerm, who is supervising the Royal Thai Police, said he would have to make certain adjustments in the national force to "put the right men in the right jobs."
"Pol Gen Wichean has been the national police chief for almost a year," he said. "But now there are gambling dens around the country."
Pol Gen Wichean has been police chief since Sept 2, 2010.
Pol Capt Chalerm added that there are horse racing slot machines everywhere in the casinos and police collect a 50,000 baht bribe per machine. Some gambling dens import casino equipment from Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea, while the police have enjoyed lucrative kickbacks. Those in the police force are well aware of it, he alleged.
 Pol Capt Chalerm said he did not say the gambling problem was due to Pol Gen Wichean's mismanagement, but someone must be held responsible.
"It is impossible that a large casino can open in the heart of Bangkok and top-ranking police officers are not aware of it and do not give a nod to the casino operator," he said.
He added that "it's likely" that a new police chief will be seen in seven days. Several senior police officers are qualified to be the next national police chief, including deputy police chief Pol Gen Priewpan Damapong, brother of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's ex-wife Potjaman na Pombejra.
Another is Pol Gen Panupong Singhara na Ayutthaya, a deputy police chief, he said.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra confirmed yesterday that Pol Capt Chalerm had been given the green light to have the final say on the police chief position.
Ms Yingluck, who chairs the Police Commission, presided over the commission's meeting for the first time yesterday. She took 15 minutes to speak about general policy to the commissioners before leaving the meeting to Pol Capt Chalerm.
She said after the meeting the commission had not discussed a reshuffle of police ranks, including the police chief position.
"Pol Capt Chalerm will be the one handling the issue," she said.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday warned Pol Capt Chalerm over the possible transfer of the police chief, saying that any more should be carried out fairly and straightforwardly without a hidden agenda.
"The national police chief should not be a political position," he said. "The officer in this post should not be changed at the same time as the government."