Somyot Poompanmoung Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Police General
Somyot Poompanmoung
สมยศ พุ่มพันธุ์ม่วง
Office:President of Football Association of Thailand
Office2:Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police
Term Start:11 February 2016
Term End:8 February 2024
Predecessor:Worawi Makudi
Successor:Nualphan Lamsam
Term Start2:1 October 2014
Term End2:30 September 2015
Predecessor2:Adul Sangsingkeo
Successor2:Chakthip Chaijinda
Birth Date:27 December 1954
Birth Place:Ayutthaya, Thailand
Party:Bhumjaithai Party
Spouse:Potjaman Poompanmoung
Alma Mater:Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School
Royal Thai Police Cadet Academy

Somyot Poompanmoung (; ; born 27 December 1954) is a former commissioner-general of the Royal Thai Police[1] [2] [3] [4] and former president of the Football Association of Thailand.[5]

Career

The National Police Policy Committee, on 20 August 2014, promoted Somyot to be the tenth Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, replacing Pol. Gen. Adul Sangsingkeo who was removed from the office by National Council for Peace and Order on 24 May 2014.[6]

Somyot retired as the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police from 1 October 2015.[7]

Member of National Legislative Council

Following the military coup of 22 May 2014, Somyot was appointed to the National Legislative Council (NLC). Members are required to reveal their assets and properties to determine if they are "unusually rich". Somyot and his wife's net worth was reported to be about 355 million baht (roughly US$11 million). One government critic said that this raised "...questions about how a lifelong career in the public service could have made him a millionaire."[8]

President of Football Association of Thailand

On 11 February 2016, Somyot was elected the new president of the Football Association of Thailand. On 3 June 2019, he was appointed as Asian Football Confederation Executive Committee Member to represent the ASEAN Football Federation.[9]

On February 8, 2024, Somyot declared his departure from the presidency of the Football Association. Having served in the role since 2016, totaling 8 years, his tenure had reached the limit of two terms. Opting not to vie for reelection for a third term, Somyot made this decision upon learning that Thai politician and businesswoman Nualphan Lamsam would be contesting against him for the presidency of the Football Association.[10] [11]

Victoria's Secret loan

In 2018, Somyot publicly declared that he had borrowed 300 million baht from the fugitive owner of the Victoria's Secret Massage parlour while serving as national police chief in 2014 and 2015. Somyot's admission came after the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) revealed that its Victoria's Secret investigation found that the money trail of the business's owner, Kampol Wirathepsuporn, led to the former police chief. When asked why he borrowed so much money from Mr Kampol, he answered that his police job was a sideline career and he needed the funds for his other businesses, including a stock trading firm.[12] Somyot did not report the loans in his assets declaration submitted to the National Anti-Corruption Commission as required during his term in office.[13]

Awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "ชัดเจน โผงผาง คนจริง"พล.ต.อ.สมยศ พุ่มพันธุ์ม่วง.
  2. Web site: Bangkok shrine bombing: Thai police hunt for suspect seen in video. CNN. 18 August 2015.
  3. Web site: Four arrested over death camp grave sites. Phuket Gazette. 5 May 2015. 29 September 2018.
  4. News: Ngamkham. Wassayos. Pol Gen Somyot chosen as new police chief. 3 April 2015. Bangkok Post. 2014-08-20.
  5. https://www.siamsport.co.th/football-thailand/thai-national/43962/ "บิ๊กอ๊อด" ประกาศอำลานายกบอลไทย ขอบคุณทุกภาคส่วนซัพพอร์ตมา 8 ปีเต็ม
  6. https://www.thairath.co.th/news/politic/444518 'สมยศ พุ่มพันธุ์ม่วง' ผงาดนั่ง ผบ.ตร.คนใหม่ (ชมคลิป)
  7. https://www.sanook.com/news/1874562/ "สมยศ" ส่งมอบ ผบ.ตร. "จักรทิพย์" มั่นใจพา สตช. ก้าวหน้า
  8. News: Chachavalpongpun. Pavin. Thai Junta Beset By Corruption Scandals. 8 September 2015. The Diplomat. 2014-10-12.
  9. Web site: AFC Certification, Pol. Gen. Dr. Somyot is the Executive Committee.
  10. https://www.goal.com/th/%E0%B8%82%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A7/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%A8-%E0%B8%9D%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B4%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%97%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%B6%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%9F%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88-%E0%B8%81%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%95%E0%B9%8D%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87-8-%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%B5/blta5c145dbfae5d3be สมยศ ฝากสิ่งสุดท้ายถึงนายกสมาคมฟุตบอลคนใหม่ ก่อนลาตำแหน่ง 8 ปี
  11. https://mainstand.co.th/th/news/1/article/15793 สิ้นสุดวาระ 8 ปี การทำหน้าที่นายกสมาคมกีฬาฟุตบอลของ พล.ต.อ.สมยศ พุ่มพันธุ์ม่วง
  12. News: Bunyamanee. Soonruth. Somyot loans expose patronage roots. 7 February 2018. Bangkok Post. 7 February 2018. Editorial.
  13. News: Laohong. King-Oua. Somyot cash eyed after parlour raid. 12 May 2018. Bangkok Post. 12 May 2018.