Big Joke caught partying with leading online gambling operator

[webfact]

 

Further suspicion has been cast on the Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, after a video recorded by a renowned Thai lawyer showed Big Joke singing with a leading online gambling operator at a party.

 

The former president of the Lamphun Warrior Football Club, Pongsiri “Tarn” Ratchawongsuek, and a Thai woman named Suchanan, also known as Minnie, were arrested for running online gambling websites.

 

Following their arrest, police conducted further investigations and found that eight police officers were reportedly involved in the illegal businesses.

 

The eight officers have been identified as:

 

Police Major General Namkiat Teerarotjanapong
Commander of the Training Centre of the Metropolitan Police Bureau

Police Colonel Khemarin Pitsamai
Commander of the Chantaburi Provincial Immigration Bureau

Police Colonel Parkbhum Pitsamai
Deputy Commander of the Office of Information and Communication Technology Division 4

Police Colonel Arrit Kuprasitrat
Commander of the Chachengsao Provincial Immigration Bureau

Police Lieutenant Colonel Karit Pariyakate
Deputy Superintendent of Investigation Division at Samrong Nuea Police Station

Police Major Chanon Aumthorn
Police bodyguard for the Deputy Commissioner of the RTP

Police Sergeant Nattawut Watwaew
Commander of the Patrol Police Division 1, Supervision Department 1, Traffic Police Division

Police Sergeant Apisit Khonyong
Commander of the Crime Suppression Division of the Bang Pakong Police Station

All eight police officers collaborated closely with Deputy Commissioner Big Joke, leading to the search of Big Joke’s residence and four other nearby houses belonging to his subordinates.

 

by Petch Petpailin

Top Photo via Nation

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-09-26

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[JoePai]

Nice haul of bent cops  

[bob smith]

The loudest one in the room is usually the one with the most dirt under his fingernails.

 

The fact that big joke claims to be this whiter than white knight in shining armor is a huge red flag.

 

He should have stayed out of the spotlight and worked in the shadows if he truly wanted to fight crime in a meaningful, productive way. His big mouth and public persona may now be coming back to bite him hard on the behind.. 

[brianthainess]

He does have a good voice though. 

[HaoleBoy]

Big Joke and others broke up the Online Gambling ring in July.

It seems immediately after some of his industrious subordinates started running the site themselves after seeing how much cash could be had.  That's a quick turnaround ... 

 

I heard from a Thai that 4-5 other houses on the same soi were raided too.  These all belonged to Big Joke and he apparently rents them out to some of his subordinates.

[NoDisplayName]

Not unexpected.

 

 

 

What a joke.

[2baht]

The screws are turning, the squeeze is on! ????

[Sandboxer]

My gf is different. ☺️

[Liverpool Lou]

54 minutes ago, HaoleBoy said:

I heard from a Thai that 4-5 other houses on the same soi were raided too.  These all belonged to Big Joke and he apparently rents them out to some of his subordinates.

The rest of us "heard" that by reading the recent articles about this, including this one, it is no big secret that "a Thai" let you in on specially!

[Liverpool Lou]

56 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

Not unexpected.

What was "not unexpected"?   There a number of aspects to this story, perhaps you were referring to RTP Commissioner Damrongsak Kittipraphat's  emphasising his commitment to ensuring justice for all parties and maintaining Big Joke’s innocence?

[webfact]

Eight police among 17 suspects allegedly involved in online gambling business
 

 

Eight police officers, including a division commander, are among 17 suspects, allegedly implicated in an illegal online gambling platform, “netflikroyal.com”, are now in police custody, following the “Big Cleaning Day” raids in Bangkok, Phetchaburi, Samut Prakan, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Saraburi by the Police Cyber Task Force (PCTF) on Monday.

 

According to Pol Lt-Gen Trairong Piewpan, commissioner of the Office of Legal Affairs and Litigation of the Royal Thai Police, the 17 suspects are among the first batch of suspects against whom arrest warrants have been issued. Six, all civilians, managed to evade arrest.

 

He claimed that the PCTF have been investigating the online gambling operation for more than two months and they have gathered sufficient evidence to seek warrants for their arrest.

 

He explained that the gang which operated the platform was divided into a group responsible for managing the gambling website, a group responsible for recruiting people to open “mule” bank accounts, another group responsible for financial and banking management and a fourth group are those who collect funds from the “mule” accounts.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2023-09-26

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[fondue zoo]

 

his stance is all   ||   aww come on guys I was just practising my Risky Business slides

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

Obviously he was deep undercover. 

[Bangkok Barry]

Just part of the culture that Thais are so proud of. Corrupt from top to bottom. I'm not sure I would trust even my local noodle seller. If there's a scam to be worked then a Thai will work it.

[SiSePuede419]

There is no gambling in Casablanca (the house always wins). ????

[spidermike007]

None of this should come as a surprise. I consider all the PR, all the grandstanding, all the hogging of the limelight, the nonstop press conferences, statements, declarations, and proclamations and crackdowns to be window dressing, meant to deceive the most naive among us. 

 

Think about how many of the guys he went after. Then research how many were actually convicted and jailed. Then consider the fact that he was the top cop in a land where cops are known to be crooked.

 

Statistically, what are the odds he was the exception? 1%? If that.

 

There are two areas that are a shame. 

1. They seem to only go after the ones who have been dismissed. Never the current officials. 

2. Nothing will come of this, unless they somehow locate the billions of baht of illicit gains, he is likely hiding. 

 

Who is the joke on now? 

[roo860]

5 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Just part of the culture that Thais are so proud of. Corrupt from top to bottom. I'm not sure I would trust even my local noodle seller. If there's a scam to be worked then a Thai will work it.

Exactly!!????????????

[Mavideol]

1 hour ago, NoDisplayName said:

Not unexpected.

 

 

 

What a joke.... nope,  more like a “Big Joke”  555

sorry man, couldn't resist  555

[Crash999]

Interesting to see the flurry of news about this guy lately. The funny thing is nothing that he has done is necessarily unusual for someone in his position. 
 

Looks like it’s a power struggle and someone is muscling their way in. 

[tukadadoll]

1 hour ago, NoDisplayName said:

Not unexpected.

 

 

 

What a joke.

a big joke

[LALes]

Big Joke sez, "The joke's on you!"

[bkk6060]

Next week it will probably be announced he is being promoted. 

 

[LivingNThailand]

 

[NoDisplayName]

2 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

Not unexpected.

 

 

 

What a joke.

I apologize.

I won't do it again.

I assumed everyone was familiar with Casablanca, and would understand the reference to corrupt officials and illegal gambling.

In future, I'll stick to 1000 words.

Again, I apologize.

It won't happen again.

I'm sorry.

[ThaiFelix]

2 hours ago, HaoleBoy said:

Big Joke and others broke up the Online Gambling ring in July.

It seems immediately after some of his industrious subordinates started running the site themselves after seeing how much cash could be had.  That's a quick turnaround ... 

 

I heard from a Thai that 4-5 other houses on the same soi were raided too.  These all belonged to Big Joke and he apparently rents them out to some of his subordinates.

Yes he comes to see me too, middle of the night, long white hair and beard, wears white robes, with a stick and some sheep, speaks in tongues about lottery results....same guy?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The eight officers have been identified as:

 

Wow!  A very rare "name and shame" episode, especially involving those in government and/or police service, who often go unidentified by authorities in media reports here when accused of wrongdoing.

[Jackbenimble]

24 minutes ago, Crash999 said:

Interesting to see the flurry of news about this guy lately. The funny thing is nothing that he has done is necessarily unusual for someone in his position. 
 

Looks like it’s a power struggle and someone is muscling their way in. 

quite possibly a case of "I'd better get him now before he comes for me" too. 

[sammieuk1]

Now Minnie has been arrested Will they be naming Mickey as the only straight cop left also known as AJ Another Joke ???? 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, brianthainess said:

He does have a good voice though. 

Nice jocks too... 

[Grandpa Cool]

I wonder what brand/model of watches this group of upstanding chaps favour?......

But seems that Big Joke doesn't collect watches.....he collects houses!