Big Joke highly critical of Thai police station at center of "Nong Tor" disappearance

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Deputy commander of the RTP Pol Lt-Gen Surachate Hakpan pulled no punches in being critical of the police station in Bang Len, Nakhon Pathom, that was supposed to be handling the case of the disappearance of infant boy Nong Tor.

 

At one point he dismissively suggested if they can't handle it, we can. Consequently the investigation is now moving apace after stalling.

 

He decisively declared that the parents - Phut, 19 and Nim, 17 - know where the child is.

 

But he admitted that currently the whereabouts of the child are unknown. The pair are now again being questioned along with a 77 year old man called Phuang who saw a man in a yellow shirt carrying a child far away.

 

The Lt-Gen - universally known as Big Joke and for his wide ranging crime busting exploits in high profile cases - explained that the crime may have resulted from the assault of a child, arguments within a family or trouble stemming from the fact that the child is not the biological one of Phut. DNA is being examined, reported Thai Rath.

 

"We'll get to the truth", he stated with the emphasis on "we" not "them" at the local station.

 

He was clearly speaking on behalf of the more senior levels of the police in getting the job done as he launched into a mini-tirade against local officers in Bang Len for their bungling in the case.

 

He slammed them as slow and inefficient. He was scathing about their response time to a major incident.

 

He questioned the whole procedural processes at the police station from top to bottom.

 

It has taken eight days since Tor went missing and now with the intervention of Surachate and the involvement of more senior police a breakthrough in the case is likely, if not imminent, suggests ASEAN NOW.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-02-16

 

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[webfact]

Doubts over fate of missing baby boy in central Thailand, police unsure if still alive

By Peter Roche

 

PHOTO: Stickboy BKK

An 8 month old baby boy, missing from his home in the central province of Nakhon Pathom is still unaccounted for, according to a Thai PBS World report.

 

Thailand’s national deputy police chief, Surachate Hakparn, says he is not sure if the baby is still alive, but believes the parents are aware of what happened to their child.

 

Surachate says officers will use all possible means to get the truth from the couple, as the pair were escorted from their home in the Bang Luang district to the police station for further questioning yesterday.

 

It’s understood the parents have confirmed their willingness to take polygraph tests and to cooperate with police to prove their innocence. Investigators are examining multiple theories regarding the baby’s disappearance, including an altercation between the couple, assault, or that the husband is not the baby’s biological father.

 

Surachate has criticised local police for not immediately responding when they were informed of the baby’s disappearance on February 5. Despite extensive searches of the family’s home and surrounding areas, no clues have been found, and forensic officers have not discovered any evidence of foul play.

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/national-news/doubts-over-fate-of-missing-baby-boy-in-central-thailand-police-unsure-if-still-alive/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-02-16

 

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[skippybangkok]

Might sound sarcastic, but my feeling is the attitude of the police is "if it dont bring in cash, dont waste your time on it". 

 

Been here a long time, and have a low opinion of the mafia in uniform

[Ginner]

7 minutes ago, skippybangkok said:

Might sound sarcastic, but my feeling is the attitude of the police is "if it dont bring in cash, dont waste your time on it". 

 

Been here a long time, and have a low opinion of the mafia in uniform

This is Big Joke throwing his underlings under the bus to make himself look good. He loves being in the spotlight. But know RTP he well may have a target on his back.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"We'll get to the truth", he stated with the emphasis on "we" not "them" at the local station.

 

He was clearly speaking on behalf of the more senior levels of the police in getting the job done as he launched into a mini-tirade against local officers in Bang Len for their bungling in the case.

 

He slammed them as slow and inefficient. He was scathing about their response time to a major incident.

 

He questioned the whole procedural processes at the police station from top to bottom.

As is often the case with local plod... not interested if it means leg work.

[koele2]

Why would anyone in the police bother looking for a missing baby?  Will the baby give them money?  Will anyone give the police money?  If not, then don’t expect them to look for a baby.  That’s not their job as a policeman in Thailand.

[AhFarangJa]

45 minutes ago, koele2 said:

Why would anyone in the police bother looking for a missing baby?  Will the baby give them money?  Will anyone give the police money?  If not, then don’t expect them to look for a baby.  That’s not their job as a policeman in Thailand.

Good sarcasm, but you do have a point re the boys in brown.

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, Ginner said:

This is Big Joke throwing his underlings under the bus to make himself look good

No, this is him saying what we all know about the Royal Thai Police, and throwing them under the bus for being the lazy good-for-nothings that they are.

[dallen52]

2 hours ago, skippybangkok said:

Might sound sarcastic, but my feeling is the attitude of the police is "if it dont bring in cash, dont waste your time on it". 

 

Been here a long time, and have a low opinion of the mafia in uniform

Think we have all experienced that to some degree.

 

My local BIB won't turn out at night (maybe night spirits) unless they get petrol money. 

[No joke]

[spidermike007]

He decisively declared that the parents - Phut, 19 and Nim, 17 - know where the child is.

 

But then he admitted that currently the whereabouts of the child are unknown.

 

This publicity seeking man, will say anything to attract attention to himself, in his never ending quest for personal attention. The degree to which he is insincere is astonishing. 

 

Lately, he has been attacking his own. Not sure how much longer they will permit this. They already banished him once, for his outrageous xenophobia, when he was chief of immigration. He brought great shame to the department. Is he doing something similar again? I would love to see him banished once and for all. Some of us wonder how he rose from the ashes the first time. 

[Brian Hull]

Vote BigJoke #1 for PM - and that's no joke.

[phetpeter]

Reminds me when a cement lorry hit me and made me turn over in the ditch in the middle of the road near Saraburi, the lorry drove off, and the locals came to my aid, when the police were phoned they asked if anybody was dead or seriosly injured. When told that noone was, they stated that they wouldnt be coming. and to contact my insurance company. Thankfully the insurance man turned up, took me to hospital, and took control of everything including statements from the locals who witnessed the situration.  He was a better policeman than the real police.

[ThaiFelix]

4 hours ago, koele2 said:

Why would anyone in the police bother looking for a missing baby?  Will the baby give them money?  Will anyone give the police money?  If not, then don’t expect them to look for a baby.  That’s not their job as a policeman in Thailand.

You know that, and I know that, but I cant believe Big Joke acts all surprised like its not common knowledge to him?  I cant quite work him out.

[geisha]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

He decisively declared that the parents - Phut, 19 and Nim, 17 - know where the child is.

 

But then he admitted that currently the whereabouts of the child are unknown.

 

This publicity seeking man, will say anything to attract attention to himself, in his never ending quest for personal attention. The degree to which he is insincere is astonishing. 

 

Lately, he has been attacking his own. Not sure how much longer they will permit this. They already banished him once, for his outrageous xenophobia, when he was chief of immigration. He brought great shame to the department. Is he doing something similar again? I would love to see him banished once and for all. Some of us wonder how he rose from the ashes the first time. 

What is your problem with Big Joke. You sound obsessed every time he’s on a case !  «  outrageous xenophobia «  ? When was that ?  «  great shame to the départment «  for bringing fraud and criminal activity to light ?  «  Attacking his own »  who were colluding with Chinese mafia, drug runner, illegal casinos , boiler house schemes  etc ? So you are saying everyone should turn a blind eye, let the country be run by thugs ,  you wouldn’t mind living in a country over run with criminals so long as he doesn’t get his photo in the newspaper ? Not sure many would agree with you .

[sambum]

"...............a 77 year old man called Phuang who saw a man in a yellow shirt carrying a child far away."

 

I really don't know what to make of that statement! 

 

Or:- "Try to make a case out of that, Sherlock!"

[sambum]

15 minutes ago, geisha said:

What is your problem with Big Joke. You sound obsessed every time he’s on a case !  «  outrageous xenophobia «  ? When was that ?  «  great shame to the départment «  for bringing fraud and criminal activity to light ?  «  Attacking his own »  who were colluding with Chinese mafia, drug runner, illegal casinos , boiler house schemes  etc ? So you are saying everyone should turn a blind eye, let the country be run by thugs ,  you wouldn’t mind living in a country over run with criminals so long as he doesn’t get his photo in the newspaper ? Not sure many would agree with you .

I think that his heart (publicity seeking? Possibly/probably) is in the right place, and to stand up the way that he does and openly criticise the corruption and inadequacies within the system is to be applauded, not criticised. I don't think he cares one way or the other about farang problems, but there again, why should he? 

But as I have said before, he had better be careful about the toes that he stands on! 

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, geisha said:

What is your problem with Big Joke. You sound obsessed every time he’s on a case !  «  outrageous xenophobia «  ? When was that ?  «  great shame to the départment «  for bringing fraud and criminal activity to light ?  «  Attacking his own »  who were colluding with Chinese mafia, drug runner, illegal casinos , boiler house schemes  etc ? So you are saying everyone should turn a blind eye, let the country be run by thugs ,  you wouldn’t mind living in a country over run with criminals so long as he doesn’t get his photo in the newspaper ? Not sure many would agree with you .

I consider him to be a phony. How many of those he has very publicly gone after, have been convicted and are in prison? Really. Very few. It is all a big show, meant to deceive the naive into thinking something is actually being done. He is a PR stooge. If you really feel otherwise, cite some examples of the results of his work. 

 

He was outrageously xenophobic as head of immigration. I believe to the point where he was not only dumped, but exiled. He became a huge liability, and said some highly ignorant stuff. How he was revived is anyone's guess. 

 

I would be totally supportive of a real crime fighter. But, I don't support imposters and publicity hounds. 

Edited February 16, 2023 by spidermike007

[geisha]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I consider him to be a phony. How many of those he has very publicly gone after, have been convicted and are in prison? Really. Very few. It is all a big show, meant to deceive the naive into thinking something is actually being done. He is a PR stooge. If you really feel otherwise, cite some examples of the results of his work. 

 

He was outrageously xenophobic as head of immigration. I believe to the point where he was not only dumped, but exiled. He became a huge liability, and said some highly ignorant stuff. How he was revived is anyone's guess. 

 

I would be totally supportive of a real crime fighter. But, I don't support imposters and publicity hounds. 

Well, got to give it to you, you have a wild imagination ! I cant remember him doing anything xenophobic a few years back, I do know he tried to sort out immigration irregularities , the «  tips «  asked , and a problem with the excessive investment in useless machines. Yes, he stepped on a few toes . All the latest headlines are ongoing cases ! You expect to be caught and put in jail immediately, you should know, as most people do, that’s not the way it works. Whatever, that’s your opinion, but I find you have an excessive fixation on what most people believe is a good person. Thais love front page headlines, as do the rest of the world.  . 

[spidermike007]

Does anyone remember all the controversy he stirred up four or five years ago? He went from being chief of immigration, the being fired and banished. Then he re-appered, was put on some police committee, then dismissed. Then he became chief of police. Go figure. 

 

It was the latest turn of events for Surachate’s career. The immigration chief was abruptly removed from the force in April 2019 and transferred to an obscure civilian post under the Prime Minister’s Office, though he remained largely missing from the public until the shooting earlier this month.

 

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2020/01/27/big-joke-left-country-days-after-govt-warning/

 

From 4 years ago:

The former limelight-loving chief of immigration is having a hard time holding down a job this year.

 

In April, he was removed from his high-profile post atop the Immigration Bureau without explanation. He was later removed from the force and reduced to a civil servant in the bureaucracy.

 

https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/joked-around-former-thai-immigration-boss-pulled-from-new-job/

Edited February 16, 2023 by spidermike007

[digger70]

15 hours ago, Ginner said:

This is Big Joke throwing his underlings under the bus to make himself look good. He loves being in the spotlight. But know RTP he well may have a target on his back.

Yes ,like before he might steps on the wrong persons toes and get send to an inactive post or Disappear forever.

[Udom]

12 hours ago, phetpeter said:

Reminds me when a cement lorry hit me and made me turn over in the ditch in the middle of the road near Saraburi, the lorry drove off, and the locals came to my aid, when the police were phoned they asked if anybody was dead or seriosly injured. When told that noone was, they stated that they wouldnt be coming. and to contact my insurance company. Thankfully the insurance man turned up, took me to hospital, and took control of everything including statements from the locals who witnessed the situration.  He was a better policeman than the real police.

I had a similar experience. Police didn't come to take any witnesses statements and only the insurance guy showed up...
As stated in previous posts. if there's nothing in it for them, they don't show up...

[brianthainess]

On 2/16/2023 at 9:58 AM, webfact said:

He questioned the whole procedural processes at the police station from top to bottom.

Now Big Joke you just have a hundred or more police stations to visit and thousands of other cases to 'Jivy' them along on.

Edited February 21, 2023 by brianthainess