The disciplinary action was made retroactive to September 5, when Pattanat Lertchaikul was dismissed from the Army because of the grave offence.
According to a recent announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej had granted permission to take the rank back from Pattanat.
In April, Pattanat ordered the brutal beating of Private Songtham Mudmad after he raised suspicions about a sergeant stealing money that he had saved up for his mother.
According to the Royal Gazette’s edition yesterday, the king had also endorsed the revocation of the rank of major from Thanyathep Thammathorn, after his jail sentence was finalised for raiding the properties of others and causing property damage. The crime was related to the much-publicised overnight beer-bar demolition of Sukhumvit Square on January 26, 2003.
The announcement shows that Thanyathep’s royal decorations had also been recalled.