The Thai palace has fired an adviser for being "extremely evil", signalling that more action could take place over the coming days. Police General Jumpol Manmai was the second aide to King Maha Vajiralongkorn to be removed from duty in recent weeks.

Jumpol had served as an intelligence chief under former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and had been one of the top figures frequently seen at the palace.

"He has wrongly used his official position for personal gain. He had political interests which were detrimental to national security and not trusted by the king," said a statement released by the Thai palace and duly signed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta ruler.

"General Jumpol committed inappropriate behaviour as a senior official close to the King. He abused his position to gain personal and political benefits which jeopardises security," read the palace order without revealing the specifics of the matter.

In recent years, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who formally took over after the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a widely revered figure with a demigod status, has been instrumental in firing several people, including senior members, from the inner circle of the palace.

He has also been successful in making changes to the constitution, thanks to the junta-ruled government, since he ascended the throne in December 2016.

The fate of Jumpol, the palace's Grand Chamberlain, is still not clear whether he would face prosecution. The Thai police have also not commented on the development yet.

Under the law protecting the Thai monarchy, anyone who insults or is being critical of the royals could face up to 15 years of prison. News organisations are also highly cautious so as not to be axed by the monarchy. </s> BANGKOK: A top official in Thailand's palace has been fired for "extremely evil" misconduct and political interests which threatened national security, the government said yesterday.

Police General Jumpol Manmai, who had served as intelligence chief under ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had until recently been one of the most senior figures in new King Maha Vajiralongkorn's household.

The government said in a statement that Gen Jumpol had "committed misconduct considered extremely evil behaviour" which did not befit a civil servant with a position close to the king.

"He has wrongly used his official position for personal gain. He had political interests which were detrimental to national security and not trusted by the king," said the statement signed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha.

A police spokesman said he could not comment on whether Gen Jumpol would be prosecuted over the accusations in the statement. The general faces a separate investigation for building private property on protected land.

Neither Gen Jumpol nor his family were immediately available for comment.

With prison sentences of up to 15 years for any offence of insulting the monarchy, Thais are cautious of commenting on anything related to the palace.

The law also limits what news organisations can report from Thailand.

The king has asserted his authority on many fronts since taking the throne in December last year after the death of his revered father.

Besides changes within the palace, he has requested constitutional changes to which the junta agreed.

Party politics stopped in 2014 when the junta seized power in the name of ending political chaos.

But a divide remains between a largely Bangkok-based, conservative elite and followers of Mr Thaksin's populist movement.

Mr Thaksin, overthrown in 2006, lives in exile to avoid a jail term for corruption that he says was politically motivated. </s> BANGKOK (Reuters) - A top official in Thailand’s palace has been fired for “extremely evil” misconduct and political interests which threatened national security, the government said on Tuesday.

Thailand's Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn attends an event commemorating the death of King Chulalongkorn, known as King Rama V, as he joins people during the mourning of his father, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok, Thailand, in this file photo dated October 23, 2016. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

Police General Jumpol Manmai, who had served as intelligence chief under ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had until recently been one of the most senior figures in new King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s household.

The government said in a statement Jumpol had “committed misconduct considered extremely evil behavior” which did not befit a civil servant with a position close to the king.

“He has wrongly used his official position for personal gain. He had political interests which were detrimental to national security and not trusted by the king,” said the statement signed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

A police spokesman said he could not comment on whether Jumpol would be prosecuted over the accusations in the statement. Jumpol faces a separate investigation for building private property on protected land.

Neither Jumpol nor his family were immediately available for comment.

With prison sentences of up to 15 years for any offence of insulting the monarchy, Thais are cautious of commenting on anything related to the palace. The law also limits what news organizations can report from Thailand.

The king has asserted his authority on many fronts since taking the throne in December after the death of his widely revered father. As well as changes within the palace, he has requested constitutional changes to which the junta agreed.

Party politics stopped in 2014 when the junta seized power in the name of ending political chaos. But a divide remains between a largely Bangkok-based, conservative elite and followers of Thaksin’s populist movement.

Thaksin, overthrown in 2006, lives in exile to avoid a jail term for corruption that he says was politically motivated.

His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, became prime minister after a landslide election win in 2011, but her government was overthrown in the last coup.

The junta has promised elections, now scheduled for next year, and has set up a military-led panel to try to encourage reconciliation between political rivals. </s> Thailand's Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn attends an event commemorating the death of King Chulalongkorn, known as King Rama V, as he joins people during the mourning of his father, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok, Thailand, in this file... A top official in Thailand's palace has been fired for "extremely evil" misconduct and political interests which threatened national security, the government said on Tuesday. Police General Jumpol Manmai, who had served as intelligence chief under ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had until recently been one of the most senior figures in new King Maha Vajiralongkorn's household.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Reuters. </s> Thai policemen walk in formation outside the Supreme Court in Bangkok on August 25, 2017. — AFP pic BANGKOK, Aug 25 — Thailand’s junta chief this morning ordered border checkpoints to be beefed-up after ex-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra failed to turn up at a court date that could have seen her jailed, sparking rumours she has fled the country.

“I just learned that she did not show up (at court),” Prayut Chan-ocha told reporters.

“I have ordered border checkpoints to be stepped up,” he said, including local and major routes out of the country. — AFP </s> BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand's junta chief on Friday (Aug 25) ordered border checkpoints to be beefed up after ex-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra failed to turn up at a court date that could have seen her jailed, sparking rumours that she has fled the country.

"I just learnt that she did not show up (at court)," Prayut Chan-o-Cha told reporters.

"I have ordered border checkpoints to be stepped up," he said, including local and major routes out of the country. </s> Thailand's Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant for former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the court said in a statement on Friday.

BANGKOK: Thailand's Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant for former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the court said in a statement on Friday.

The country's deputy prime minister said earlier that it was possible Yingluck, who was ousted by a military coup in 2014, has fled the country. Thailand's immigration police chief said he had no information to suggest she has left Thailand through the country's border checkpoints.

Yingluck faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty in a negligence case brought by the ruling junta that centers on her role in a rice subsidy scheme for farmers that resulted in multi-billion dollar losses. </s> Ousted former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at the criminal court in Bangkok, Thailand, September 29, 2015. Source: Reuters/Chaiwat Subprasom/File Picture

THAILAND’S Supreme Court has sentenced former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to five years jail after finding her guilty of negligence in a trial brought by the junta that overthrew her.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the nine judges were still delivering the verdict on Wednesday when news of the sentence leaked to Thai media.

Yingluck dramatically fled the country a month ago after failing to show up at court for the verdict. She was rumoured to be in Cambodia, however, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has denied those rumours. Three senior policemen have been investigated but not charged for allegedly helping her escape in a car with counterfeit plates.

SEE ALSO: Thailand: Ex-PM Yingluck has fled abroad, say sources



Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who overthrew Yingluck in a 2014 coup, said on Tuesday that he knows where the ousted former prime minister is but refused to disclose her location until after a verdict was delivered.

Reuters has reported she is living in Dubai with her elder brother Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister toppled in a 2006 coup, who lives in exile to avoid a jail sentence on corruption charges.

Yingluck, who pleaded not guilty in the case, was found guilty of negligence for the mismanagement of a rice subsidy scheme that saw Yingluck’s government buy rice from farmers at above-market prices in an attempt to manipulate the global grain market.

SEE ALSO: Thailand: Arrest warrant issued for ex-PM Yingluck after no-show in court



The program collapsed as neighbouring countries increased production and stockpiles of rice rotted in Thai warehouses. The military claims it caused US$8 billion in losses.

The verdict has the potential to reignite tensions between the ruling military junta and those who still support the Shinawatra family. However, only 50 members of Yingluck’s so-called “red shirt movement” showed up outside the court on Wednesday, a dramatic drop in numbers from previous hearings.

Prayuth has urged Thais to remain calm over the case that has essentially ended the political dominance of the Shinawatra family, whose movement won the last five general elections, making it the most dominant force in Thai politics for more than a decade. </s> BANGKOK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Thailand's Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant for former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the court said in a statement on Friday.

The country's deputy prime minister said earlier that it was possible Yingluck, who was ousted by a military coup in 2014, has fled the country. Thailand's immigration police chief said he had no information to suggest she has left Thailand through the country's border checkpoints.

Yingluck faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty in a negligience case brought by the ruling junta that centers on her role in a rice subsidy scheme for farmers that resulted in multi-billion dollar losses. (Reporting by Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Pracha Hariraksapitak and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
The Royal Thai Government has fired Police General Jumpol Manmai for "extremely evil" misconduct and political interests which threatened national security.