Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has lambasted Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin, now an asylum seeker in Australia, for marring Thailand's image with his accusations and challenged him to return to take legal action here.
The former chief of investigation into the trafficking of Rohingya Muslim migrants flew to Melbourne last week where he told the Australian media he is fleeing a death threat allegedly made by influential figures in the military and police, who were involved in the human trade case he was handling.
Gen Prayut said yesterday he had no idea whether Pol Maj Gen Paween's claims are true as they must be verified, but "my point is whether [Pol Maj Gen Paween] still loves the country," the premier said, questioning his motive.
The prime minister wants Pol Maj Gen Paween to return to Thailand to clarify his allegations and file a complaint over the case. He promised his government will treat him fairly.
"Tell me who has threatened you. No matter how big they are, the government will arrest and punish them under my order," Gen Prayut said.
Last month, Pol Maj Gen Paween tendered his resignation as deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 8, which oversees the upper southern provinces.
He said the police force's decision to transfer him to the region, where networks of human traffickers were uncovered and arrested in his probe, showed senior figures wanted him dead, Pol Maj Gen Paween claimed.
He said people involved in trafficking would seek retribution for the progress he made in the probe which he headed.
National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda has set up a probe team to look into the accusations and will check whether other police in the South face similar threats as alleged by Pol Maj Gen Paween.
He expected an initial result this week.
Deputy police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Piyaphan Pingmueang questioned Pol Maj Gen Paween's claim, saying it seems "unreasonable".
He said he was a senior police officer who should not be easily threatened like ordinary people.
In addition, Pol Maj Gen Paween had never filed a complaint over the alleged threat, he said.