Bangkok: Phumtham Vejjayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, addressed the issue of individuals wearing Pheu Thai Party shirts in photos with celebrities, explaining that the shirts are widely available for purchase.

According to Thai News Agency, Phumtham emphasized the difficulty in preventing people from requesting photos with public figures, as the shirts are accessible to anyone.

Phumtham elaborated on the challenges posed by impersonators, noting that he has personally been targeted and has taken legal action against two individuals, resulting in arrest warrants and forthcoming court decisions. He stressed the importance of addressing such misuse of his name and confirmed that immediate police action is taken in such instances.

Addressing reports of military involvement, Phumtham reported that an investigation revealed two military police officers had modified personal vehicles to lead a motorcade. The officers confessed, and while the vehicles used were not government-issued, further investigation is underway to assess the extent of legal violations. The results of this investigation are anticipated imminently, as the actions in question are believed to be for personal financial gain but contravene multiple legal statutes.