The Prime Minister’s Office announcement, published yesterday (June 26) and countersigned by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, confirms that Mr Nirat has been relieved of his duties as Phuket Governor and appointed Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
Although the order was published on June 26, it states that the appointments took effect from June 25, 2026.
The same order appoints Chotinrin Kerdsum, formerly Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, as the new Governor of Phuket, also effective June 25.
The publication ends 10 days of speculation over why the transfer had not yet taken effect after the Cabinet approved the reshuffle on June 16. As The Phuket News previously reported, the appointments required royal endorsement and publication in the Royal Gazette before they could become legally effective.
Earlier yesterday, before the Royal Gazette announcement was issued, an aide to Mr Nirat, who asked not to be named, told The Phuket News that publication of the order was expected late yesterday.
Asked why the process had taken 10 days since Cabinet approval, the aide said the timeframe was not unusual. “This is considered fast”, she said.
That has observably not been true with most previous appointments, including that of Mr Nirat to the post of Phuket Governor.
The aide declined to give any reason for the delay, saying only that the appointment remained subject to royal endorsement.
She explained that royal endorsement is required for appointments at C10 level and above, including provincial governors, while transfers involving vice governors do not require the same process.
While remaining silent on the unexplained delay in the 10-day wait for the Royal Gazette announcement, the aide also made no mention that Mr Nirat’s transfer comes amid a corruption scandal engulfing Phuket’s provincial administration.
The governor’s removal is just a part of the “sweeping reshuffle” that has seen at least eight senior provincial officials removed or transferred since May as investigations continue into allegations of corruption, influence, benefit-seeking and internal conflict.
“Mr Nirat was in Bangkok on official business and is expected to return to Phuket this evening”, the aide added.
The aide said Mr Nirat was expected to spend the next few days in Phuket collecting his belongings and bidding farewell to colleagues before departing for Bangkok over the weekend.
Under the transfer order approved by Cabinet, both Mr Nirat and Mr Chotinrin are scheduled to assume their new positions on Monday.