General Apirak to be transferred

PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Commander Apirak Hongtong has confirmed that he has been promoted to the position of Commander of General Staff – Division 8, effective April 1.

Maj Gen Apirak said that the transfer to Region 8 headquarters in Surat Thani was ordered by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban.

General Apirak’s replacement as Phuket Provincial Police Commander is said to be Pigad Thantipong, 57, currently Deputy Commander of the Surat Thani Police.

Pol Col Pigad told the Gazette that he has yet to receive official confirmation of his new post in Phuket, and declined to comment further.

A 1977 graduate of the Royal Thai Police Cadet Academy, Col Pigad has spent his career in the southern provinces of Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Yala and Surat Thani.

— Atchaa Khamlo