The chief physician of Police General Hospital has been transferred to an inactive post, effective from Oct 1, following a six-month suspension of his medical licence for his role in helping former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra avoid doing prison time.
National police chief Kittharath Punpetch signed the order transferring Dr Taweesilp Wechawitarn, who also holds the rank of police lieutenant-general, to the Royal Thai Police Operations Centre.
The transfer order noted a resolution passed by the Medical Council of Thailand on May 8, when it voted to suspend Dr Taweesilp’s medical licence for six months, effective from Oct 1.
The council said any violation of the suspension by continuing to practise medicine would constitute an offence under the Medical Profession Act.
The Royal Thai Police subsequently set up a fact-finding committee in July to investigate alleged misconduct involving Pol Lt Gen Taweesilp and another senior physician, Pol Lt Gen Sophonrat Singhajaru. The investigation is still under way.
The two have been accused of helping Thaksin receive privileged treatment in a luxury ward on the 14th floor of the hospital.
The Medical Council concluded that the doctors provided false or misleading medical documents or information regarding Thaksin’s health to facilitate his extended hospital stay.
It suspended Pol Lt Gen Sophonrat’s licence for three months and Pol Lt Gen Taweesilp’s licence for six months, starting Oct 1.
Given the suspension of his medical licence and the pending inquiry, police authorities deemed it inappropriate for Pol Lt Gen Taweesilp to continue in his current role, the order said.
The reassignment would ensure transparency, fairness and prevent potential damage to the force, it added.
Pol Lt Gen Paiboon Chiamanukulkit, a senior physician at Police General Hospital, has been named acting chief physician, effective from Oct 1 to March 31 next year. (Story continues below)
Behind bars
On Sept 9, the Supreme Court ordered Thaksin, 76, to actually serve the year’s imprisonment to which he was sentenced two years ago, rejecting his prolonged stay in hospital as part of his sentence.
The court said it considered as illegitimate the transfer of Thaksin from Bangkok Remand Prison shortly after his arrival there on Aug 22, 2023, after he complained of chest pain.
The billionaire and former Manchester City Football Club owner had returned to Thailand that same day after 15 years in self-imposed exile. He stayed at the police hospital instead of in prison until his parole in February 2024.
The former prime minister is now in the maximum-security Klong Prem Central Prison.