Phuket Governor Reassigns Volunteer Defense Units Amid Online Complaints, Stresses Fair Probe

Phuket –

Phuket Governor Chotinrin Koedsom on the 20th of September 2026 addressed public complaints circulating on social media about the conduct of Volunteer Defense Corps (Or Sor) members in the province, stating that authorities are taking the matter seriously and moving quickly to establish the facts.

Our previous story:

The Ministry of Interior has moved swiftly to address allegations of misconduct at a checkpoint in Thalang District, Phuket, where officials were accused of demanding money from detainees in exchange for their release.

Now for the update:

The governor said Phuket is not standing idle. Administrative steps are already under way to ensure security operations remain orderly and to restore public confidence while an investigation proceeds.

In the Thalang district, the district chief has already reassigned the duties of the officers involved. At the provincial level, investigators have gathered available records and interviewed witnesses. Officials are now waiting for the complainants to provide formal statements so the evidence can be completed.

To keep public-safety work running without interruption during the inquiry, the province on the 19th of September 2026 disbanded the previous operational team and formed two new units totaling roughly 30 personnel. The change, the governor explained, is an administrative adjustment intended to maintain continuous coverage of security and public-order duties.

Governor Chotinrin noted that the province already holds operational records of actions taken against certain individuals. Related parties are being invited to give statements so the events under complaint can be confirmed. Most other witnesses have already been interviewed; only the complainants’ accounts are still needed for a full picture.

He stressed that every complaint will be examined on the basis of facts, evidence and due legal process to ensure fairness to all sides. The temporary reorganisation of the Volunteer Defense units, he added, allows local administrative work to continue efficiently while the investigation runs its course.