Srisuwan Janya said the number of officers seemed excessive.

“I wish to ask the ombudsman to probe whether the number is accurate. Maybe some police who did not work on the case just included their names in the report for their own benefit in their career path,” he said.

The three female suspects – Priyanuch Nonwangchai, Kawita Rachada and Apiwan Satayabundit – fled to Myanmar after the killing of Warisara Klinjui and surrendered to Myanmar police at the weekend.

They were then handed over to Chiang Rai immigration police and appeared at a press conference with the national police chief in Bangkok despite the fact that the crime took place in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen.

“When Myanmar handed over the suspects, there was a small number of police in the photos. How come the number escalated to 90?” Srisuwan asked.

He also called for an investigation why the suspects had been brought from Chiang Rai to Bangkok although the crime took place in Khon Kaen.

“There are some figures that used their power to approve a police plane to bring the suspects from Chiang Rai to Bangkok and from Bangkok to Khon Kaen in a total of four flights, at about Bt150,000 per flight, without any necessity.

“The use of the plane apparently was so the national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda could hold a press conference on the murder case in Bangkok, which was not the crime scene,” Srisuwan said.