Col Chaiwat Uikum, the superintendent of the Kathu police, ordered his deputy Lt Col Sorapong Chookaew to report to Phuket Provincial Police headquarters in Phuket Town.
Col Sorapong is to stay there for one month while the investigation is carried out.
Col Chaiwat gave the order last night (June 10) after more than 100 staffers from Hollywood discotheque staged a protest on Soi Bangla, calling for justice for fellow staffer Kamoncahi Singkied, 28.
The demonstrators on Soi Bangla held up signs reading: “Just honest workers not drug dealers”, “Government official abuse residents”, “Why physical abuse” and “We are afraid to go back to work… It is no longer safe”.
Mr Kamoncahi, originally, from Trang province, remains in Patong hospital recovering from injuries sustained in the attack, including facial injuries and broken teeth.
The protesters told police that Col Sorapong and six other police officers entered the club, and at about 2am yesterday an incident started.
Friend and fellow staffer Kittipong Yunuy, 31 told reporters that Col Sorapong grabbed Mr Kamonchai, who was working as a security guard that night, by the collar and said, “What are you looking at me for?”
“He grabbed Kamonchai by the collar and hit him in the face,” Mr Kittipong said. “I tried to stop it, but Col Sorapong said that if anyone tried to help him, he would shoot them.
“Kamonchai begged for his life and apologised, but Col Sorapong kept beating him. We were all afraid to report this to the police,” Mr Kittipong said.
Protesters said that Col Sorapong had a history of violence.
“This is not the first time this police officer has abused people. Every time he gets drunk, he either hits or kicks the security guard,” one protester said.
The protest disbanded after officers Lt Col Akanit Darnpitaksarn and Lt Suthichai Tienpo, both from the Kathu police, met with the protest leaders and the nightclub owner at 8pm.
Col Akanit confirmed that he had reported the incident to his superior and assured that he would take care of this issue.
He also vowed to never let this kind of incident happen again.
“We want to ensure the safety of all workers here tonight and we are very sorry for the victim and very sorry for the incident,” Col Akanit said.