PUBLISHED : 21 Jul 2023 at 04:00
The navy will kick a non-commissioned officer out for prolonged absence from duty amid allegations that he stole large quantities of ammunition from Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri.
The sailor has been absent without leave since July 5, Royal Thai Navy spokesman Adm Pokkrong Monthatphalin said yesterday.
He added that the navy will propose the sailor’s dismissal to the Defence Ministry and seek a warrant for his arrest from the military court.
“The navy is not nonchalant and will quickly find the wrongdoer to take disciplinary and criminal action,” Adm Pokkrong said without naming the sailor.
Sources said the suspect is a chief petty officer second class who supervises an arsenal at the Sattahip naval base.
Adm Pokkrong said a search of the suspect’s home on Wednesday found stolen cartridges, which he said shows the missing sailor had stolen rounds of ammunition from the base.
The alleged theft was reported on Sunday by the popular CSI-LA Facebook page, run by a Thai expatriate in the US, which alleged tens of thousands of M855 and M856 rounds as well as thousands of 40mm grenade launcher cartridges, had gone missing from the navy’s stores.
Adm Pokkrong said financial transactions that were examined have indicated that the thefts took place over a long period of time.
The suspect has turned off all his communication devices and is believed to be in hiding somewhere in the country, he said.
Police will hunt for the man and arrest him, he added.