POLICE CLEARED IN DRUGS CASE

Four Angthong policemen have been reinstated in the provincial police service after being cleared of drug allegations.

Angthong provincial police chief Maj-General Somchai Mahawansu said the reinstatement of the former drug-suppression officers took effect on Tuesday.

"There is no evidence to substantiate the allegations, hence the reinstatement in accordance with police-service procedures," Somchai said.  The officers will be assigned new duties, he added.

The four are Senior Sgt-Major Kanha Weladee, Senior Sgt-Major Boonpa Chuaypradit, Sgt-Major Waiyawut Areejit and Sergeant Sawai Payakso.

They were relieved of their duties in February pending a fact-finding investigation into their alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

The probe was completed last month.

Reacting to his reinstatement, Boonpa said his worst nightmare was over.  "I am very happy to have been proven innocent.  I am now past my bad dreams and will move on with my police job," he said.

All four said they did not mind being reassigned, saying it was more important that their peers had welcomed them back.

The Nation

ANGTHONG