Top cop changed head of airport probe before quitting

The order was signed two days after the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) found grounds for criminal and disciplinary action against Patcharawat over his role in the crackdown on an anti-government mob outside Parliament on October 7.

Questions have been raised as to whether it was legal for the police chief to sign such an order after he was indicted by the NACC.

Some legal experts said Patcharawat should have stood down from his duties immediately.

In the order, Patcharawat replaced Pol Lt-General Wut Phuavej with Pol Lt-General Somyos Phumphanmuang - another assistant police chief - as head of the inquiry team.

The move took effect from Wednesday.

Wut was seen as siding with the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). He took to the PAD stage and defended the yellow shirts in front of the Royal Thai Police Club last July when the PAD voiced upset at being charged with terrorism for their mass protest at the new airport.

Somyos is close to Newin Chidchob, the de facto leader of Bhum Jai Thai Party, and Vichai Raksriaksorn, owner of King Power, which runs the "duty free" outlet at airport.

Somyos has said he is ready to take up the task as soon as he gets the order. He vowed be neutral and handle the case with transparency.