Big Joke probes Pattaya sex scandal with high stakes not only for ‘Sin City’ but Thailand itself

[webfact]

Big Joke or General Surachate Hakparn, spoke with reporters on Sunday in Nong Bua Lamphu province after he was ordered to take control of the investigation by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. (Inset) Scenes from the TV exposé, including footage from a video clip produced by the German suspect for Deutsche Welle TV but which has been blocked to audiences in Thailand. The DW TV crew filmed much of the documentary on location in Pattaya.

High-stakes investigation into DW TV’s exposé sends shockwaves through Pattaya and Thailand. Deputy National Police Chief, ‘Big Joke,’ takes charge as the scandal unravels. Controversial claims of bribery, blocked evidence and a city’s image at risk. The real victim, a young girl, lost in the sensational storm.

Deputy National Police Chief General Surachate Hakparn also known by the public as ‘Big Joke’ is to take over the investigation into an underage sex scandal in Pattaya exposed in a German TV documentary aired in recent days which targeted Pattaya as a haven for sex tourists and those seeking under age sex services. It comes as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and local business operators are extremely concerned about the damage being done to Thailand’s image across the world and its known effect within the already struggling foreign tourism industry.

 

It is a news story that is snowballing and taking on a life of its own, Thailand’s top cop, known as ‘Big Joke’ or more formally Deputy National Police Chief Surachate Hakparn has again been called in as government fixer with public outrage growing while business leaders in Pattaya are turning their venom on the sensational claims made by international German TV giant Deutsche Welle.

 

by Joseph O' Connor

 

Full story: Thai Examiner.com 2023-12-05

 

- 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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[geisha]

Welcome back Mr Surachate. If anyone in the force is going to get to the bottom of this story/accusations/ rumors, it’s him. Many on this forum seem to dislike him, but there again, each to his own opinion. It’s certainly not good to have stories like this published in international news . Lots of viewers/readers will believe it, even if it’s not true. Thailand and especially Pattaya has a bad enough reputation as it is.

[harleyclarkey]

I just love it - concerned about the damage to Thailands image around the world. 

I don't think he really needs to worry all that much ... the past image of a  pure Thailand,  a welcoming and super friendly Thailand went down the toilet years ago.

I remember Thailand then - now there are just too many issues and bad tourists (and many bad locals in the heavily touristed spots).

 

[Hokeus]

Totally fake news. It's been proven on multiple occasions that prostitution does not exist in Pattaya. 

[Skipalongcassidy]

Thailand is like Delta Airlines so many years ago... we don't care what you say just spell our name right... this kind of story brings thousands of "tourists" to Thailand.

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

a video clip produced by the German suspect for Deutsche Welle TV but which has been blocked to audiences in Thailand.

Not really, it was there yesterday.

Made me feel like moving!

[Toby1947]

Big Joke's on the warpath, he didn't like missing out on his wedge from the 1m baht. 

[NextG]

4 minutes ago, Toby1947 said:

Big Joke's on the warpath, he didn't like missing out on his wedge from the 1m baht. 

Erm…

[NextG]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Big Joke or General Surachate Hakparn, spoke with reporters on Sunday in Nong Bua Lamphu province after he was ordered to take control of the investigation by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. (Inset) Scenes from the TV exposé, including footage from a video clip produced by the German suspect for Deutsche Welle TV but which has been blocked to audiences in Thailand. The DW TV crew filmed much of the documentary on location in Pattaya.

High-stakes investigation into DW TV’s exposé sends shockwaves through Pattaya and Thailand. Deputy National Police Chief, ‘Big Joke,’ takes charge as the scandal unravels. Controversial claims of bribery, blocked evidence and a city’s image at risk. The real victim, a young girl, lost in the sensational storm.

Deputy National Police Chief General Surachate Hakparn also known by the public as ‘Big Joke’ is to take over the investigation into an underage sex scandal in Pattaya exposed in a German TV documentary aired in recent days which targeted Pattaya as a haven for sex tourists and those seeking under age sex services. It comes as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and local business operators are extremely concerned about the damage being done to Thailand’s image across the world and its known effect within the already struggling foreign tourism industry.

 

It is a news story that is snowballing and taking on a life of its own, Thailand’s top cop, known as ‘Big Joke’ or more formally Deputy National Police Chief Surachate Hakparn has again been called in as government fixer with public outrage growing while business leaders in Pattaya are turning their venom on the sensational claims made by international German TV giant Deutsche Welle.

 

by Joseph O' Connor

 

Full story: Thai Examiner.com 2023-12-05

 

- 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

I would guess that he already knows what happened…

[Kerryd]

From the article:
"Deutsche Welle’s documentary, titled ‘Sex Tourism in Thailand,’ faced criticism for presenting evidence of paedophilia crimes, despite official statements denying the existence of child prostitution in Pattaya’s sprawling red-light district."

So they want to investigate the media outlet for presenting evidence of something the officials have denied exists.

And their main concern is not about the child prostitution or the police bribery - but their image and reputation.

One has to remember something very important though. 

In Thai law, you can be released on bail to fight criminal charges against you, even if you are charged with serious crimes. There have been numerous cases of people being released from prison on bail because they'd been charged with another crime. (The former "godfather of Chon Buri" was a prime example. He'd been sent to prison after being convicted of plotting the murder of a business rival but was released on bail after being charged in a land fraud case and promptly did a runner.)

What some people think is a "bribe" is actually the bail money that has to be paid so they can be released. Whether through ignorance (likely) or poor translation (possibly), people might think it's a bribe.

A GoFundMe scam I busted a couple years ago was like that. A story in a Canadian media outlet told about a Canadian who'd flown to Thailand and been "kidnapped by men dressed as police officers who took him to a "basement" somewhere and demanded a ransom to let him go". And, of course, the story was from "friends" who'd already set up a GoFundMe (and needed a media outlet to publicize it).

Turns out, the guy had flown to Thailand and - 3 days later - was arrested in Bangkok for selling drugs to an undercover cop ! He was arrested in an area noted for "African" drug dealers.
He'd been taken to a police station and charged and told how much his BAIL was. Supposedly he phoned his friends back home and told them he'd been "kidnapped" and needed a whopping $5,000 for the "ransom" (about 130,000 baht at the time). (Who goes to Thailand and starts selling drugs on a street corner 2-3 days later ?)

I informed the reporter at the media outlet who initially refused to believe that the guy was a criminal. (I guess that wouldn't have sold as many newspapers.) A couple months later I sent her a news clipping about the guy being released from jail and deported. Apparently she tried to contact his "friends" that had initially told her the story but they wouldn't answer her calls for some reason.
 
So maybe the German paid a million baht BAIL to be released from jail, not a "bribe". But after getting back to Germany told the media it was a "bribe" (either because of his own ignorance or poor translation).

 

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

an underage sex scandal in Pattaya exposed in a German TV documentary aired in recent days which targeted Pattaya as a haven for sex tourists and those seeking under age sex services.

I'm calling BS on the claim that Pattaya is a haven for those seeking under age sex services.

 

If it actually was I'm sure that in all my years there I'd have got a hint of it, but not so.

Does it exist there, probably, but it probably exists everywhere if one knows where to look, and that includes the bastions of sexual purity in the west.

However, I'm not claiming I know where to look, I don't, but I know human nature.

[Iron Tongue]

I think it's just a pre-emptive move by Big Joke so that nobody will think twice when they see his car parked in front of massage partners.

As for the DW report, I suspect that the number of single bookings from Germany to Thailand will be increasing exponentially.

[thaibeachlovers]

46 minutes ago, harleyclarkey said:

I just love it - concerned about the damage to Thailands image around the world. 

I don't think he really needs to worry all that much ... the past image of a  pure Thailand,  a welcoming and super friendly Thailand went down the toilet years ago.

I remember Thailand then - now there are just too many issues and bad tourists (and many bad locals in the heavily touristed spots).

 

I don't think he really needs to worry all that much ... the past image of a  pure Thailand,  a welcoming and super friendly Thailand went down the toilet years ago.

 

I'm agog to know how long ago in the mythical past that refers to. I've been in Thailand for a very long time and that was always a tourist thing, but I never had the saffron glasses to be fooled.

 

PS I didn't just go to tourist traps and get drunk around the pool, I went all over, on Shank's pony.

[sammieuk1]

The man for the job cover up the Lexus 🤔

 

 

[fdimike]

Come on now.  Anyone who is really so naive to believe that Pattaya is not a cesspool of prostitution must also believe in the Easter Bunny. 

[thaibeachlovers]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

while business leaders in Pattaya are turning their venom on the sensational claims made by international German TV giant Deutsche Welle.

Probably with just cause. I haven't seen the German version of Sex in Pattaya, but the British press were not averse to publishing outright lies to sell a few more of their filthy lying rags.

[Black arab]

Lots of pearl clutching by the thais, up here in isaan 12/13year old girls sold off to guys or they leave school and live with their "boyfriend".

A gut who was a labourer on our house build was 25 married a 14 year old and was proud of it.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, fdimike said:

Come on now.  Anyone who is really so naive to believe that Pattaya is not a cesspool of prostitution must also believe in the Easter Bunny. 

Come on now. Pattaya is a pool of sex available to any with a few bob to spare, but hardly a cesspool, unless sex per se is vile. If it is then every western guy that had a leg over is also in the cess, even if he never discovered the delights of Pattaya.

At least in Pattaya, blokes never needed to have a quicky behind a dumpster, like they apparently do in Blighty.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

It comes as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and local business operators are extremely concerned about the damage being done to Thailand’s image across the world and its known effect within the already struggling foreign tourism industry.

Everyone worldwide knows exactly what Pattaya is and what services it provides.

Quit with the shocked , stunned and shock-waves rubbish from the locals and businesses.

The precious image of family friendly Pattaya is only believed to be true by TAT.

 

[hotchilli]

19 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

So they want to investigate the media outlet for presenting evidence of something the officials have denied exists.

And their main concern is not about the child prostitution or the police bribery - but their image and reputation

It's the difference in law between Germany and Thailand.

In Thailand you can be investigated and sued for deformation even if what you are stating is the truth.

You cannot publicly state the truth if it hurts the reputation of a person, institute or business/resort.
In Germany he truth is the truth and you are allowed to publicly expose it.

[Scouse123]

He will get to the bottom of nothing. His focus will be on limiting damage to the filthy RTP by attempting to place ' another spin ' on what occurred. Then we will hear it is being investigated, a committee set up, yada yada yada until it disappears from the headlines.

 

It was only recently they wey were raiding his house for ' graft ' and wasn't it him as well who had his car shot up whilst he was in a massage parlour when under suspension? Yes, it was!

 

Big Joke by name, Bigger joke by nature.

[fondue zoo]

For starters, when facing outward to the grown up world stop using the foolish nomenclatures.

Any follow up by DW or German media is going to include references to, "yes they have assigned an officer named Big Joke to the case."

[Denim]

Probing in Pattaya.

 

If you can't  beat 'em join 'em.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

1 hour ago, Hokeus said:

Totally fake news. It's been proven on multiple occasions that prostitution does not exist in Pattaya. 

Well, the police have said that there are no prostitutes in Pattaya, but who trusts the police?

[Lucky Bones]

41 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

It's the difference in law between Germany and Thailand.

In Thailand you can be investigated and sued for deformation even if what you are stating is the truth.

You cannot publicly state the truth if it hurts the reputation of a person, institute or business/resort.
In Germany he truth is the truth and you are allowed to publicly expose it.

Ah. Made my morning!

Investigated and sued for deformation.

A most excellent Freudian Slip.

My ex GF investigated me closely for deformation and concluded that Percy simply bent a bit to the left.🙃🙃

[TheFishman1]

Thailand does not want to hear, or talk about the truth, but really goes on here from prostitution to sex trafficking to the corruption TIT

[hotchilli]

1 minute ago, Lucky Bones said:

My ex GF investigated me closely for deformation and concluded that Percy simply bent a bit to the left.🙃🙃

Easy fix... change hands

[jacko45k]

12 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Well, the police have said that there are no prostitutes in Pattaya, but who trusts the police?

They are doing exactly as we expect of them, lying, taking bribes, etc etc.

[klauskunkel]

Quote

the story addresses an undercurrent of negative opinions about Thailand that should be tackled

typical: tackle the opinions and not their causes

[PETERTHEEATER]

1 hour ago, fdimike said:

Come on now.  Anyone who is really so naive to believe that Pattaya is not a cesspool of prostitution must also believe in the Easter Bunny. 

Spoil sport! I rub my bunny rong time.😋