Thai PM picks Thaksin in-law as police chief

Published : October 20, 2011 :: 12:10:20 [ 878 views ]

BANGKOK, October 19, 2011 - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra chose a relative of her fugitive ex-premier brother Thaksin as the country's new police chief on Wednesday, a senior force member said.

Chairing a meeting of the National Police Commission in Bangkok, Yingluck proposed Police General Priewpan Damapong, elder brother of Thaksin’s ex-wife Pojaman, as head of the police force.

“The meeting unanimously agreed on Priewpan, who is currently the most senior deputy, as the new police chief,” Police General Aek Aungsananont told AFP.

As head of the commission, Yingluck has control over nominations for the post, and Priewpan was the only candidate named.

Yingluck is accused by opponents of allowing Thaksin to be heavily involved in decisions by the government, which played on the former leader’s continuing popularity to secure a landslide win in July elections.

Thaksin was ousted from power in 2006 and lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption.