Speaking with great emotion, National Police Chief Pol General Wichean Potephosree said that while he was prepared to step down, he lamented "sabotage of this kind", which he said would ruin the Royal Thai Police.
"If my replacement is good enough to succeed me, or if I am no longer fit for the position and should be moved away, I will comply, but the use of such sabotage would only destroy the Royal Thai Police, and I call on those people who use it to stop doing so," he said, without elaborating on the term "sabotage".
Wichean did, however, refer to a move to replace him with Pol General Priewpan Damapong, a deputy national police commissioner and brother of Khunying Pojaman na Pombejra, the ex-wife of fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
He said the existence of many active gambling dens in Bangkok was being used against him, with their continued operation being cited as an indication of his alleged incompetence.
At yesterday's press conference, held after a police in-house training session with US anti-narcotics operatives, Wichean called on "those in power" to execute their authority justly and fairly, while avoiding any attempt to tarnish the Royal Thai Police's public image, which could later lead to "public disapproval, and even eventual unrest".
Pausing frequently, gulping deeply and with reddish eyes, Wichean said that holding the top police job had never been what he would call a pleasant experience, but rather a sacrifice.
He said the integrity of the police was crucial for public trust, but it was now at risk because of "the ongoing mess".
Asked to take up the position as permanent secretary of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, Wichean said he had not decided on the proposal or thought further about lodging a complaint with the Central Administra-tive Court protesting his prospective transfer away from the Royal Thai Police. "But if the civilian post is offered to me officially, and should I decide to take it, I would then comply and leave the Royal Thai Police."
A probe into the gambling dens is under way under the supervision of a Royal Thai Police inspector-general, with the results expected in a week's time. Any police officers found to be involved with the operation of the dens would face both disciplinary and criminal action, Wichean said.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who oversees the police and is instrumental in seeking to replace Wichean with Priewpan, said the latter was good at anti-vice duties and narcotics suppression.
He said any officials found guilty in the gambling dens' probe would be transferred in seven days of the investigation's completion.
Asked whether he was forcefully squeezing Wichean out of his job, Chalerm said: "I am not a masseur."
The deputy PM mentioned a policy to assign Border Patrol units to assist local and anti-narcotics police in extensive suppression activities. He did not say exactly when this would be implemented, but suggested it would be when Priewpan was officially appointed as the new national police commissioner.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shina-watra yesterday said Wichean was not "being squeezed out" of his post.
Former national police chief Seri-pisut Temiyavej said that although the top job was not a political appointment, it was traditionally treated like one. "Very few national police chiefs take this position until near their retirement," he added.
Ex-premier Abhisit Vejjajiva said Wichean's replacement must be based on logical grounds and not involve the personal relations bet-ween Priewpan and Thaksin. "There were complaints from other candidates when Priewpan was once nominated to be the Royal Thai Police commissioner in a proposed reshuffle [during a Thaksin administration]," Abhisit said.
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