The cabinet is expected to endorse the nomination Tuesday of a senior justice official as the new director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).
Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya greets justice officers at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, at a meeting called to allow him to lay out his policy priorities. (Photo by Tawatchai Khemgumnerd)
Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said the nominee, who has not been revealed, will go before the cabinet Tuesday after being reviewed by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who also oversees the Justice Ministry.
Gen Paiboon said the candidate for the DSI top post is an "insider", meaning the person chosen for the job is a justice official.
There were several hopefuls for the post, including Pol Lt Gen Dejnarong Sutthachanbancha, acting chief of the Provincial Police Region 4 — not a justice official. DSI officials reportedly do not want an "outsider" as their chief.
Suwana: Justice Ministry deputy permanent secretary "most likely" to get the job of DSI chief on Tuesday. (File photo)
Among insiders tipped for the post are Pol Col Narach Sawetanant, director-general of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department; Pol Col Dusadee Arayawut, deputy permanent secretary for justice; and justice deputy permanent secretary Suwana Suwannajutha, who is also acting DSI director-general.
Of the three, Ms Suwana is the favourite.
The post has been vacant since its controversial former head, Tarit Pengdith, was removed following the May 22 coup. Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Chatchawal Suksomjit was named acting DSI chief after Mr Tarit's transfer.
The cabinet will also be asked to approve the nomination of a new director-general of the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection.
Veerayuth Sukcharoen, a justice inspector-general, is tipped to be appointed for the post.
Gen Paiboon said the selection process also is under way for the appointment of members of the special case board whose terms have expired.
He said specialists need to be brought in to boost public confidence in the DSI's handling of special cases.
Meanwhile, Gen Paiboon on Monday laid down five urgent policies to justice officials during a meeting, urging them to demonstrate progress within three months.
The policies are justice administration, prevention of crimes and rehabilitation of offenders, narcotics suppression and prevention, suppression and prevention of corruption in the public sector, and suppression and prevention of special crimes.
Gen Paiboon said plans for each policy have been drawn up, and they need to be put into action.
The justice minister zeroed in on the Corrections Department, saying the agency, which is in charge of prisons and rehabilitation of offenders, has failed to deliver his policy on smuggling of narcotics and contraband items into prisons.
He threatened to transfer chiefs of any prisons found to harbour drug bosses in the next three months. He gave the chief of the Corrections Department six months to clean up the mess.
Gen Paiboon asked those who were not up to the task to start packing up.
"I've made it a clear policy that all the prisoners who are still capable of wielding influence must be moved out of minimum security prisons. All of them, not only the big names. But there seems to be a problem implementing it," he said.
He cited the shooting of a prison official in Surat Thani as an example of the failure.
He said the Corrections Department had removed the names of influential prisoners proposed for transfer.
The shooting of Charnchai Namchak on Oct 14 is believed to be linked to a drug trafficking ring.
"The commander of Surat Thani prison has to look into the problem. Or he should pack his bags now," he said.
Gen Paiboon said the National Council for Peace and Order and the government have been supportive in the crackdown on drugs in prisons. The rules and regulations are in place, so the problem must lie with the people enforcing them, he said.