Yingluck's bodyguard in focus as police security role questioned

That bodyguard you see accompanying former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and before that her older brother and his former wife is not an employee of the Shinawatra family. He is still a member of the Thai police and some say that is inappropriate.

Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

I had always assumed that Pol Col Watanyu Witthayapalothai was the personal bodyguard for members of the Shinawatra family, having seen him in hundreds of photos, first with former prime minister Thaksin, then with his former wife Potjaman Na Pombejra and then with former prime minister Yingluck throughout her time in office and afterwards. I was wrong.

Pol Col Watanyu Witthayapalothai accompanies then prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra on a temple visit in Sakol Nakorn late last year. He is still her head of security although she is no longer in office. CHANAT KATANYU

Police chief orders probe into politicians’ security escorts

The national police chief has ordered Special Branch Police (SBP) to withdraw its officers assigned to provide security for politicians if the practice is not in line with regulations, a police spokesman says.

Pictures of Pol Col Wathanyu Withayapalothai, assistant duty officer attached to the deputy police chief, accompanying Ms Yingluck at a department store and during the recent search of her motorcade in Chiang Mai have been shared widely on social media. Some people argue his assignment is inappropriate.

A younger-looking Pol Col Watanyu is seen with then caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on his way to a Thai Rak Thai meeting at the party's headquarters in 2006. CHANAT KATANYU

Pol Col Watanyu previously served as a security-team member for Ms Yingluck's elder brother, Thaksin, when he was prime minister, and for her after she became premier. He currently heads the security team assigned to her.

Police spokesman Prawut Thawornsiri earlier said the PM's Office had agreed to a request from Ms Yingluck to have Pol Col Watanyu oversee her security for a year starting in August. The request was approved by former national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew.

Her bodyguard still receives his usual police salary and will return to work as assistant secretary to Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen in August. Other ex-PMs could also file requests asking for police to escort them, he added.

Pol Lt-Col Wathunyu Withayapalothai, described as "Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra’s full time bodyguard," opens the car door for her as she arrives at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions after her January 2008 return from self-exile abroad. PHRAKRIT JUNTAWONG

Pol Lt Gen Prawut said police chief Pol Gen Somyot Pumpunmuang is concerned about the criticism and has instructed the SBP to look into cases of police or retired officers serving as bodyguards to politicians.

He said if it turns out that requests by politicians or VIPs for police protection are not in line with regulations or deemed inappropriate, those personnel will be withdrawn.

Pol Lt Gen Prawut said the deployment of police on special protection duty has been authorised by others, not by Pol Gen Somyot.

Adapted from stories in today's Bangkok Post and from bangkokpost.com

สามารถฝึกอ่านออกเสียงและดูคำแปลได้ที่ : http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/478413/yingluck-bodyguard-in-focus-as-police-security-role-questioned