Thailand gets new police chief

BANGKOK, Aug 9 - The Royal Thai Police Board on Monday voted unanimously 9-0 endorsing Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree, Deputy Police Commissioner-General as new national police chief as proposed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Gen Wichean will replace Pol Gen Pateep Tanprasert, acting national police chief who retires at the end of next month.

Pol Lt-Gen Ake Angsananont, secretary to the Royal Thai Police board, said the the meeting chaired by the premier took 15 minutes to approve the only nominated candidate.

Mr Abhisit proposed only one candidate and explained to the meeting how Gen Wichean was qualified and suitable for the top police post.

Then, the ten-member board voted unanimously to endorse Gen Wichean.

Mr Abhisit, who chaired the Royal Thai Police Board meeting, refrained from voting while Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga was absent.

Gen Wichean will be the seventh national police chief after Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan retired from the police force in 2009.

Mr Abhisit failed to fill the national police chief post since it fell vacant on September 30 last year. The premier proposed making Inspector-General Pateep Tanprasert as new chief but the appointment was rejected by the Royal Police Office. Gen Pateep has remained acting police chief since then until his retirement later this year.

Gen Wichean, a graduate of the Pre-Cadet Police School's Class 28, served as acting police chief for Gen Patcharawat twice.

He was working well with the government and seen as neutral with no political affiliations.

The prime minister will submit the name of the new police chief to His Majesty King Bhumibol for royal endorsement. (MCOT online news)