Meanwhile, national police deputy chief Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul referred to a report that Pol Sub-Lieutenant Manas Termthanasak had allegedly been linked to “grey” businesses over the past decade, including a gambling den.

He said deputy national police chief Pol General Chalermkiat Srivorakhan would be in charge of the investigation. Chalermkiat later yesterday promised to proceed with a straightforward process that would not protect any officers.

Chalermkiat said he had not received a formal report about the envelopes’ content, adding that if it were cash, police would verify if it was linked to a gambling den.

Charnthep said Manas had given about 60 fellow policemen traditional red ang pao envelopes, each containing Bt500 in cash and a talisman, describing the gifts as being “from an elder brother to juniors”.

Charnthep and Chalermkiat both said Metropolitan Police Area 7 had already launched a fact-finding investigation into the gifts and asked anyone involved to submit to questioning within seven days.

There is a Royal Thai Police regulation against officers visiting business establishments during annual festivals, especially Lunar New Year, and collecting money, gifts or other benefits, an activity deemed “inappropriate”.

However, Charnthep cited a National Anti-Corruption Commission rule allowing civil servants to accept cash or items worth up to Bt3,000.

“This case seems to not be a crime, but it might be a disciplinary breach,” Charnthep said.

A Royal Thai Police source said Manas, who distributed the ang pao to fellow Metropolitan Police Area 7 officers at his Thonburi home, was being investigated for having skipped work to travel abroad 96 times in the last year.

Srivara issued an urgent order on Sunday for the Special Branch Division to investigate Manas, the source said, adding that Srivara wanted Manas removed from duty as a member of Pol General Paisal Cheuarod’s security detail while his allegedly inappropriate actions were scrutinised. Paisal is a former senior adviser to the Royal Thai Police.

The division also ordered Manas to report for duty at his original office yesterday and set up a fact-finding committee led by deputy superintendent Pol Lt-Colonel Eknirut Wansiripak.

Srivara later said the fact-finding committee must report its findings to him within 30 days.

As the spotlight was on Manas, The Nation found that he had been named as an executive at six private companies, three of which have already folded.

The three firms still in operation are:

1. Khunphrakhumkrong Limited Partnership, a Lat Phrao publishing firm registered on January 13, 2015 with capital of Bt300,000. Manas held a 66.66-per-cent share in the company, whose profits totalled Bt3,750, debts Bt8,000 and assets Bt303,750 in 2015.

2. Chaan Living Co Ltd, a Khlong San furniture import-export firm registered on March 28, 2014 with Bt4-million capital. No operational information was available.

3. Nai Hua Group Ltd, a Bang Khen-based property lessor and water and electricity bill-payment service company registered on September 3, 2012 with Bt1-million capital. Manas held a 50.99-per-cent share in the company, which also has an office in Chatuchak district. Its profits totalled Bt13,075, debts Bt30.1 million and assets Bt22.2 million as of December 2016.