The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has launched a fact-finding probe following the circulation of an audio clip allegedly featuring a senior police officer demanding kickbacks from illegal businesses in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.
The NACC on Monday confirmed it was examining the authenticity and substance of the audio recording, which has spread widely on social media.
The clip is claimed to be a conversation between the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Police commander, Pol Maj Gen Kriangsak Noonkliang, and an officer at Chawang Police Station, who were discussing the collection of illicit benefits from illegal enterprises operating in the province.
In the clip, the voice allegedly belonging to Pol Maj Gen Kriangsak can be heard pressuring the Chawang Police Station officer to send him bribes collected from local illegal businesses, including casinos and gambling dens, and threatening crackdowns on all officers at the station if his demands were not met.
"If I don't get the money, you won't get it either," the voice said.
Meanwhile, Chawang Police Station released a statement addressing the viral clip, which was posted on a Facebook page along with an image of Pol Maj Gen Kriangsak and provocative captions.
Pol Col Poowasit Wangkaew, superintendent of Chawang Police Station, said authorities could not confirm whether the voices in the recording belonged to the actual people, adding that the audio may have been fabricated or generated using artificial intelligence (AI) and that its source remains unknown.
The station will proceed to investigate the matter, he stated.
Following the release of the clip, national police chief Kittharath Punpetch signed an order transferring Pol Maj Gen Kriangsak to the RTP's Operations Centre.
He was relieved of his Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Police command, with Pol Maj Gen Pornchai Khajornklin, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8, stepping in as the acting commander on Sunday.
The RTP said the transfer was necessary to ensure transparency, fairness and efficiency in the investigation, citing concerns that allowing the officer to remain in his position could cause further damage to public confidence in the police force.
