Former immigration chief "Big Joke" comes full circle - charges against 107 allegedly corrupt immigration officers laid

[webfact]

File photo: Former immigration police chief Pol Lt-Gen Surachate Hakpan

 

Almost four years after former immigration police chief Pol Lt-Gen Surachate Hakpan was sensationally removed from his post and placed under investigation, the man known universally as Big Joke can finally beam his trademark smile.

 

Yesterday he instructed an investigative deputy to lay charges of dereliction of duty and extortion against 107 immigration officers from Regions 4 and 5 of the IB.

 

They are implicated in the so-called grey Chinese" investors' visa issuance and extension scandal that has rocked Thailand.

 

Surachate was removed as IB chief in April 2019 under circumstances still not explained to this day. Many felt he had stepped on too many toes in his meteoric rise in the RTP. Some thought he had information about the 2 billion baht "Biometrics" system that would expose sections of the RTP.

 

File photo: Pol Lt-General Surachate Hakparn

 

He had also been deputy commander of the tourist police though he acted as if he were its chief, flying within Thailand and abroad to bust crimes.

 

Then Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha dramatically clipped his wings and ordered him into a largely civilian role shuffling paper in his office.

 

A brief sojourn in India followed. In Suriwong in Bangkok two men on a motorcycle  shot at his Lexus while he was having a massage inside a parlor. That crime was never solved.

 

In the aftermath, an RTP deputy lost his job after a leaked phone call with then RTP chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda.

Finally after a period in the wilderness Surachate was back as a special advisor. He threw himself into anti-human trafficking work and cleaning up Thailand's fisheries.

 

Then he was named as a deputy commander of the Royal Thai Police.

 

Now things have come full circle for a man many feel is the answer to Thailand's appalling corruption record not just in the immigration bureau but in the wider RTP, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Many see him as the next RTP chief or even having a career in politics.

 

He has the full backing of the RTP chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat, serving a one year tenure at the helm, who put him in charge of the investigation against the IB that has taken several months.

 

Surachate, a man from Songkhla in the south, said he would go after corruption even among his former classmates, now high ranking men.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

True to his word at the Weluwan police station in Muang district of Khon Kaen, NE Thailand, yesterday formal charges were filed against the 107 by Pol Maj-Gen Namkiat Theerarojanapong in his capacity as investigating officer, reported Thai Rath.

 

Other Thai media chipped in - they can't get enough of the handsome and charismatic Big Joke, a name that refers to his penchant for rice porridge.

 

Daily News had a picture of Surachate surrounded by reporters' microphones captioned: (He) orders a bit of a clean-up!

 

It is alleged that using bogus connections to foundations, associations and language schools Chinese investors were given visas and extensions.

 

Daily News Thai Caption: He orders a bit of a cleanup!

 

In most cases the Chinese had absolutely no connection to these organisations.

 

They were certainly not studying or doing any teaching.

 

Many were involved in criminal enterprises instead.

 

It is alleged that immigration officers mostly in regions 4 and 5 aided and abetted  in:

Falsifying signatures

Making up the names of fake foundations

 

or

Just taking money to issue extensions with no evidence whatsoever.

 

Surachate promised that prosecutions will follow as the investigation continues.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-02-23

 

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[Neeranam]

Like all other rich Thai spoiled brats, he'll end up running a coffee shop.

Most Thais are aware of the massive immigration corruption. 

If I had a visa by bribing an Immigration policeman/woman, I'd be panicking now. 

 

[bamnutsak]

I wonder how many of these bad apples worked in Immigration when Surachate led that organization? 75%? 90%? Good to see he instilled such a sense of honesty and respect for the law during his tenure.

 

He is on track to be national police cheif but that position is usually the last just prior to retirement, so it will be a few years before that happens. That's the one position you can't purchase.

 

After that? Can't see him in politics.

[thoengthaied]

Does anyone know where regions 4 and 5 of the Thai Immigration Bureau are?

[Tom H]

Honestly? I like him!

A very capable person!

[mikebell]

Are these in addition to the 115 announce earlier?

[Neeranam]

 

45 minutes ago, webfact said:

True to his word at the Weluwan police station in Muang district of Khon Kaen, NE Thailand, yesterday formal charges were filed against the 107 by Pol Maj-Gen Namkiat Theerarojanapong in his capacity as investigating officer

Khon Kaen, where I lived for 20 years, is the most corrupt area.

I regularly saw Immigration police in the gold shop inside Big C, along the road from there. They would park their clearly marked van right outside the door. It costs 1 million baht minimum to get into that area, in a starting position. 

If you used an agent to get your extension, check to see if it was issued in Khon Kaen. If it was, better to get it fixed before being deported. 

[Neeranam]

6 minutes ago, thoengthaied said:

Does anyone know where regions 4 and 5 of the Thai Immigration Bureau are?

Isarn is region 4. 

[Neeranam]

Chiang Mai is region 5. 

[sammieuk1]

Going round in ever decreasing circles more like he should know from his time cleaning up Thailand's fisheries that the stench isn't coming from the minnows its from the puffers ????

[Bangkok Barry]

I have to receive permission to 'visit' my wife from this bunch of criminals.

[Pedrogaz]

4 hours ago, Tom H said:

Honestly? I like him!

A very capable person!

Your liking of him means absolutely nothing. I'm sure many of the 107 charged are likeable too.

 

He drove a Lexus.....it seems an unusually luxurious car for a police officer that receives scanty pay. 

[Pib]

 

Quote

Yesterday he instructed an investigative deputy to lay charges of dereliction of duty and extortion against 107 immigration officers from Regions 4 and 5 of the IB.

4 hours ago, thoengthaied said:

Does anyone know where regions 4 and 5 of the Thai Immigration Bureau are?

 

Sure glad the other immigration divisions/offices around Thailand are mostly corruption free.   Divisions/regions 4 & 5 shown below.

 

https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง

• Immigration Division 4 ^[10] (Bor.TorMor.4)
  • Directorate
  • technology department
  • Foreign Service Supervision Division
  • Investigation Division
  • provincial immigration
    • Loei Province Immigration
    • Nong Khai Immigration
    • Immigration Bueng Kan Province
    • Immigration Nakhon Phanom Province
    • Immigration, Sakon Nakhon Province
    • Udon Thani Immigration
    • Immigration, Nong Bua Lamphu Province
    • Khon Kaen Immigration
    • Kalasin Province Immigration
    • Immigration, Mukdahan Province
    • Immigration Roi Et Province
    • Immigration, Maha Sarakham Province
    • Immigration, Yasothon Province
    • Immigration, Amnat Charoen Province
    • Ubon Ratchathani Immigration
    • Immigration, Sisaket Province
    • Surin Immigration
    • Buriram Immigration
    • Immigration Nakhon Ratchasima Province
    • Immigration in Chaiyaphum Province
  • 
     
• Immigration Division 5 ^[11] (Bor.Tor.Mor.5)
  • Directorate
  • technology department
  • Foreign Service Supervision Division
  • Investigation Division
  • provincial immigration
    • Chiang Rai Immigration
    • Chiang Mai Immigration
    • Immigration, Mae Hong Son Province
    • Immigration, Phayao Province
    • Immigration in Nan Province
    • Phrae Province Immigration
    • Lampang Immigration
    • Lamphun Immigration
    • Tak Immigration
    • Sukhothai Immigration
    • Immigration, Uttaradit Province
    • Immigration, Phitsanulok Province
    • Kamphaeng Phet Immigration
    • Immigration, Phichit Province
    • Phetchabun Immigration
    • Immigration, Uthai Thani Province
    • Nakhon Sawan Immigration
  •  

[kingstonkid]

There were a lot of nay-sayers on here that thought he would cover it up.  While I think that he is in no hurry to be National Chief, he is the national police chief to the people.  He is the one that they trust.

 

If we remember one of the areas that he tried to clean up and reorg was in fact Chang Mai due to the <deleted> service that it gave.  Long time members that live there may be able to shed light.

 

His removal just as he was starting to get up to sped and make a difference may have been orchestrated by those at those locations.

 

Remember he was removed from hs post which usually means that he has been accused of doing wrong.  

 

He was found not guilty and put back on the street.

 

I am sure a lot of people in the CM issan area have been walking on egg shells ever since and now he has been able to get his revenge.

[Pib]

I bet this IB investigation was "very narrowly focused" like predominately looking at visas/extensions issued to Chinese at certain immigration offices vs a broad focus of all nationalities and all immigration offices.   That is, blinders were worn with the head kept straight ahead versus looking in all directions & locations......look under these few rocks; do not look under all the rocks, etc.

[rabiedabruce]

Love the way the Terminally Credulous believe this man will 'wipe out corruption' and 'crack down on immigration and those agents' hrumph lol. Currently, the Russians using language schools are never having to attend a class, 70% of their fees go to Imm, 20% to the 'Education' Department and 10% to the schools. And you believe these wads of cash will be easily given up? Precious.

[mokwit]

Don't know why people are so keen on the person who brought back the TM30 (on which extensions now hinge) and introduced the requirement to keep 800k/400k year 'round in your account for a retirement extension.

[Stocky]

39 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

He drove a Lexus.....it seems an unusually luxurious car for a police officer that receives scanty pay

It probably helps that he's married to a doctor from a wealthy family.

[BestB]

Thailand only knows extremes, nothing in the middle. Its either free for all or hardcore raids and crackdowns.

 

What i do wonder though is most people report having hard time doing extensions, immigration checking and triple checking every piece of paper.

 

With Non B visa if a signature missing or a small paper, you get turned away and often "donation" does not help. 

 

So how did Chinese and Immigration managed to forge documents and skip all the scrutiny while westerns have to go through all of it?

 

And if they found its the Chinese who were getting visa's illegally and were involved in all the illegal activities, why did they tighten up for the rest? making it even harder for the westerners?

[scorecard]

5 hours ago, thoengthaied said:

Does anyone know where regions 4 and 5 of the Thai Immigration Bureau are?

Open the Thai Immigration website in English. Easy to find details of the various regions. 

 

Same with the RTP site.

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, Pedrogaz said:

Your liking of him means absolutely nothing. I'm sure many of the 107 charged are likeable too.

 

He drove a Lexus.....it seems an unusually luxurious car for a police officer that receives scanty pay. 

A Lexus is relatively pedestrian compared to the list in Ferrari Joe's garage!

[Brian Hull]

Vote Big Joke for Prime MInister. He's what Thailand needs.

[Surasak]

5 hours ago, Neeranam said:

 

Khon Kaen, where I lived for 20 years, is the most corrupt area.

I regularly saw Immigration police in the gold shop inside Big C, along the road from there. They would park their clearly marked van right outside the door. It costs 1 million baht minimum to get into that area, in a starting position. 

If you used an agent to get your extension, check to see if it was issued in Khon Kaen. If it was, better to get it fixed before being deported. 

"If you used an agent to get your extension, check to see if it was issued in Khon Kaen. If it was, better to get it fixed before being deported"......

Why would you say that? Are you just trying to cause problems, or have you just found a new big wooden spoon? 

[moe666]

1 hour ago, Pib said:

I bet this IB investigation was "very narrowly focused" like predominately looking at visas/extensions issued to Chinese at certain immigration offices vs a broad focus of all nationalities and all immigration offices.   That is, blinders were worn with the head kept straight ahead versus looking in all directions & locations......look under these few rocks; do not look under all the rocks, etc.

It is like any investigation if your boss says find out whythere are so many murders in Chiang Mai thats what you investigate you do not veer off to investigate the murders in Bangkok.

[HappyExpat57]

Is Big Joke so confident that he doesn't feel the need for sporting a flak jacket?

[BigStar]

31 minutes ago, BestB said:

So how did Chinese and Immigration managed to forge documents and skip all the scrutiny while westerns have to go through all of it?

Paid a lot more and have established connections. You could do that. Well, could have.

 

32 minutes ago, BestB said:

And if they found its the Chinese who were getting visa's illegally and were involved in all the illegal activities, why did they tighten up for the rest? making it even harder for the westerners?

Have they tightened up requirements for Westerners, and only, since the scandal broke? Which ones are those?

 

[mokwit]

2 minutes ago, BigStar said:

Have they tightened up requirements for Westerners, and only, since the scandal broke? Which ones are those?

Seems to be increased scrutiny and document requirements at extension time aimed at determining that you really live where your TM30 says you do, if I have interpreted correctly what is going on from reports/comments here.

[metisdead]

A post with a trolling video has been removed.

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, Surasak said:

"If you used an agent to get your extension, check to see if it was issued in Khon Kaen. If it was, better to get it fixed before being deported"......

Why would you say that? Are you just trying to cause problems, or have you just found a new big wooden spoon? 

What do you mean? 

The fact that it's in Khon Kaen, they will probably investigate the officers there, as its well known that rogue officers there stamp illegal immigrants who live in other areas. 

 

[SunsetT]

With all this talk of Immigration offices, does anyone know if there is any Thai dept. or phone number that you can report any corruption or misapplication of the rules. I just left my IO who are insisting that 800k must be in the bank 3 months before Non O Retirement renewal not 2. This despite my showing them the rules and link printed out in Thai and English from the Thai Government website clearly stating that it is 2 months. The supervisor said that this only applies to the 1st year. I said that it does not say this anywhere on the website. She then came back with a sheet of the rules which apply to the initial application for a Non- O visa for retirement repeating that it is only the 1st year. She then walked away and disappeared before I could point this out!