Five Phuket officials assigned to Interior Ministry posts pending fact-finding probe

The Department of Provincial Administration has ordered five Phuket officials to take up temporary assignments in Bangkok from May 25 to June 24 while a fact-finding investigation proceeds into complaints raised in Phuket.

According to the source material, Director-General Narucha Khosasivilai issued the order on May 20 after information circulated on social media about complaints from members of the public and representatives of entertainment venue operators in Phuket. The order said the issue could affect the image of the Interior Ministry and the Department of Provincial Administration, as well as public confidence in state agencies.

The five officials named in the order are Phuket vice governor-level provincial clerk Rungruang Thimabut, Phuket district chief Siwat Rawangkul, Thalang district chief Wilailak Rueangphon, Kathu district chief Akkaraphon Sutthirak Chitsuphap, and Phuket provincial protection officer Danai Suksakul.

The source said the transfer order was intended to prevent the five officials from becoming involved in the consideration of evidence during the fact-finding process. The move followed protests by entertainment business operators and workers in Soi Bangla at Patong Beach in Kathu district, who opposed alleged demands for benefits by state officials and called on relevant agencies to speed up solutions to licensing problems and ensure fairness for operators.

The source also said Rungruang, after being assigned to the temporary post, responded on social media through his personal Facebook account. In one post, he wrote: “In 56 days, [I] reclaimed Freedom Beach and Bang Tao Beach for the government, worth several billion baht. Is this justice?”

It said he also posted a photo taken while accompanying the prime minister during a visit to Phuket and questioned issues involving alleged encroachment on public land and forest land in the Bang Tao and Cherng Talay areas. The post referred to beachfront structures that may fall under violations of the Building Control Act and said the issue involved enormous interests. The source said the post drew significant media attention and many public comments.