Phuket vice governors transferred with immediate effect
Thailand’s Interior Ministry has transferred two Phuket vice governors with immediate effect after allegations involving Phuket officials were raised at a ministry meeting in Bangkok.
The Ministry of Interior on Monday, June 16, ordered the immediate transfer of Phuket Vice Governors Adul Chuthong and Teeraphong Chuaychoo to Songkhla and Nakhon Si Thammarat respectively.
The order was issued hours after Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul raised concerns at a Ministry of Interior meeting in Bangkok about allegations circulating on social media involving Phuket officials and called for an investigation.
Anutin said the allegations were unproven but warranted scrutiny. “We don’t necessarily believe these things,” he said during the meeting. “But we have to adhere to the principle that where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
According to the source material, the discussion included social media claims alleging links between people close to a deputy governor and disputes involving public land in Cherng Talay, as well as claims that a “deputy governor” had boasted of having enough influence to have Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn transferred.
Anutin said the government was cracking down on influential figures and warned against state officials supporting illegal activities. He said such involvement “must not happen in the Ministry of Interior.”
Governor Nirat responded by asking the ministry to appoint an independent fact-finding committee. He said he wanted the Permanent Secretary to establish a ministerial-level committee to investigate the facts and ensure fairness for all parties.
Part of the meeting focused on allegations posted online about a figure referred to as “Deputy Seafood,” a nickname used by several social media pages making claims about influence and political connections in Phuket.
Vice Governor Teeraphong was asked during the meeting to respond to the online allegations, but said he preferred to submit documents because the matter involved multiple individuals.
Under the same transfer order, Pol Lt Col Khetarat Chansilp, previously vice governor of Samut Sakhon, and Romdon Haji Awae, previously vice governor of Songkhla, were appointed as Phuket’s new vice governors.
The Ministry of Interior has not publicly said whether the transfers were disciplinary measures or part of a broader administrative reshuffle.
The move comes amid months of controversy in Phuket, including investigations into public land disputes, allegations involving nightlife licensing and earlier transfers of senior provincial officials.
