Acting metropolitan police chief Lt-General Sanit Mahathaworn said yesterday that a fact-finding report had found that several steps in the investigation were improperly conducted, suggesting the officers – including police at the levels of commander and superintendent – may have delayed the investigation on behalf of the suspect.

Sanit said he could not reveal the officers’ names because some were still on active duty at the Thong Lor precinct while others had taken posts elsewhere.

The police chief has instructed an inspector-general to proceed with legal action against the nine officers and to set up a disciplinary committee to determine if there was wrongdoing, Sanit said, adding that guilty offenders would possibly be dismissed from the civil service.

Vorayuth slammed his Ferrari into the motorcycle driven by Pol Snr Sgt-Major Wichian Klanprasert on Sukhumvit Road in 2012, resulting in the officer’s death. Having avoided prosecution for speeding and drunk driving, Vorayuth now faces charges of reckless driving resulting in a person’s death and property damage, as well as failing to help a victim and alert officials to the accident.