Pol Gen Permpoon Chidchob, a former education minister and younger brother of Newin Chidchob – widely regarded as the real power behind the governing Bhumjaithai Party – has been appointed as an adviser to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
The cabinet on Tuesday approved the appointment along with those of several other political officials. Pol Gen Permpoon served as education minister in the administration of former prime minister Srettha Thavisin.
His appointment as education minister at the time drew sharp criticism, particularly from the now-defunct Move Forward Party. The opposition party, the predecessor of the People’s Party, cited his role in the fatal hit-and-run case involving Vorayuth ‘Boss’ Yoovidhya.
The heir to the Red Bull fortune crashed his Ferrari into a motorcycle driven by a police officer in the Thong Lor area of Bangkok on Sept 3, 2012.
The National Anti Corruption Commission found that Pol Gen Permpoon, while serving as an assistant to the national police chief, failed to object to prosecutors’ decision to drop two charges against Vorayuth.
Pol Gen Permpoon faced unspecified disciplinary action at the time but was not among those indicted in 2024 for offences including manipulating speed estimates that resulted in the charges being dropped.
Two former senior prosecutors were sentenced to jail in April this year for misconduct in connection with the ‘Boss’ case.
The last remaining charge against Vorayuth, reckless driving causing death, carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail, and expires in September 2027.