Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang has named his four deputies, saying Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had permitted him "a free hand" to personally select his team members.
Pol Gen Aswin named his Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) deputy governors, a day after he was installed as governor by an order issued under Section 44 of the interim charter by the prime minister.
The deputies are Amnuay Nimmano, a member of the National Reform Steering Assembly and former chief of Provincial Police Region 1; Thaweesak Lertprapan, former director of the BMA's Traffic and Transport Office; former deputy city clerk Chakkaphan Phewngam; and Wanwilai Promlakkano, who also serves as a Bangkok Council member.
On Tuesday Gen Prayut invoked Section 44 to remove MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra and his deputies from office after MR Sukhumbhand was suspended from work without pay on Aug 25 amid allegations of misspending state funds.
The action followed an investigation by the Office of the Attorney-General into the BMA spending 39.5 million baht on a light show at Lan Khon Muang at City Hall from Dec 31 last year to Jan 31.
Pol Gen Aswin yesterday said he will report directly to the prime minister, insisting he was "not concerned about his new responsibilities" as Gen Prayut had given him the freedom in his job to make decisions as he saw fit.
The appointments of 14 other positions, including Pol Gen Aswin's secretary and advisers, will be made later, he said.
Pol Gen Aswin said he had assigned a city clerk to recruit candidates.
He will select candidates based on seniority and fairness before forwarding the list to the prime minister for consideration, he said.
Pol Gen Aswin said officials and administrative officers from the BMA and the Bangkok Council will work together closely.
He said he would focus initially on the funeral rites for His Majesty the King and provide security measures for the large number of mourners turning up to pay their respects to the King at the Grand Palace.