This week, fifteen police officers who fled during a fatal shooting at Kamnan Nok’s dinner party in Nakhon Pathom will be charged with dereliction of duty, Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) Commissioner Jirabhop Bhuridej announced on Tuesday.
He was providing media updates on the ongoing investigation into the shooting of Pol Maj Siwakorn Saibua, a 32-year-old highway police inspector, at the home of notable local entrepreneur Praween “Kamnan Nok” Chankhlai in Muang district on September 6.
Pol Lt Col Wasin Panpee also sustained injuries in the assault, executed by Thananchai Mamnak, a close associate of Mr. Praween. Subsequently, the gunman was neutralized by police in Kanchanaburi.
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop disclosed that investigators had met multiple times to discuss possible actions against the police officers for their neglect of duty during the shooting.
The team examined surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts, and other evidence, concluding that 29 officers were present at the event, categorized into four groups.
The first group included the deceased and injured officers; the second comprised six officers whose conduct amounted to dereliction of duty and evidence concealment. These officers have already been arrested and dismissed from the force.
The third group included six officers who assisted their wounded and deceased colleagues. The fourth group consists of the remaining 15 officers who will also face charges of dereliction of duty, as mentioned by Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop.
These 15 officers will be formally charged this week, the CIB chief confirmed, adding that investigations related to false declarations are still underway.
According to earlier reports, Pol Maj Siwakorn had denied Mr. Praween’s request at the party to promote his nephew, a highway policeman. Following this denial, an assailant entered and opened fire on Pol Maj Siwakorn, also injuring Pol Lt Col Wasin.
The incident provoked widespread outrage as the other officers at the scene made no attempt to arrest the assailant or Mr. Praween, allowing them to escape instead.
Mr. Praween later turned himself in, and his business dealings are currently under scrutiny.
In response, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop stated that witness accounts and evidence affirm that Pol Col Vachira was among those assisting the officers who had been shot.
Pol Col Vachira, the immediate supervisor of Pol Maj Siwakorn, who was tragically killed, held himself responsible for extending the invitation to the man for the dinner party.
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop noted that 15 security cameras were installed at Mr. Praween’s residence. Two were non-functional, twelve recorded the events, and one captured the incident at the party.
He confirmed that the existing evidence is sufficient to press charges against Mr. Praween.
Lastly, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop emphatically stated that the CIB had no involvement in the recent raid on the residence of Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn in Bangkok.
