Surachate Hakparn: The rollercoaster career of Thailand’s most famous policeman

[snoop1130]

 

Deputy National Police chief Pol General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn sounds surprisingly cheerful given that his high-flying career has just plunged into another crisis.

 

It’s as if he were trying to prove he is the proverbial cat with nine lives.

 

“I wish everyone a safe return to their home provinces for happy meals with their family during Songkran … Happy Thai New Year,” he wrote recently on Facebook.

 

Last month, Surachate was transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister along with National Police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol after a dispute erupted between Thailand’s top two cops. The transfer order, signed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin last month, declared that their hostility threatened to escalate and undermine public trust in the police force.

 

Turning point

 

The conflict has been escalating since last September when Torsak beat competition from the more senior Surachate (counting from the number of years since becoming a superintendent) to be named the new national police chief.

 

Surachate had been a strong contender for the top post in the Royal Thai Police (RTP). But just days before the appointment was made, armed policemen raided Surachate’s house in Bangkok over online gambling allegations.

 

Many observers believe the raid was timed to shatter Surachate’s chance of rising to the top.

 

Once a shining star

 

Born to a junior policeman, Surachate grew up in the deep South province of Songkhla. As a teenager, he enrolled in the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School’s Class 31 where his name was inscribed on the school’s plaque for impeccable behavior and sports performances.

 

Caption: Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn at the press conference on alleged online gambling involvement (22/02/2024)

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-04-16

 

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[spidermike007]

This is an arrogant fool, who was booted out of immigration, due to his constant ranting about the evil nature of foreigners. He had no business being appointed to a high position within the RTP. Maybe a janitor, or a street cop. Maybe. 

 

His reputation as a crime fighter is hogwash, and just great PR on his part. 

 

He is guilty by association. Anyone in that position has to be corrupt. The RTP is the greatest pyramid scheme in Thailand. 

 

Where is he hiding the billions of baht? 

Edited April 16 by spidermike007

[ThailandRyan]

5 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This is an arrogant fool, who was booted out of immigration, due to his constant ranting about the evil nature of foreigners. He had no business being appointed to a high position within the RTP. Maybe a janitor, or a street cop. Maybe. 

 

His reputation as a crime fighter is hogwash, and just great PR on his part. 

 

He is guilty by association. Anyone in that position has to be corrupt. The RTP is the greatest pyramid scheme in Thailand. 

 

Where is he hiding the billions of baht? 

Seems you have an axe to grind with all officials in Thailand. I agree corruption is endemic, but nothing we can do will ever solve it.

[Homburg]

"....Thailand’s most famous policeman..."      

 

Should that be "Thailand’s most infamous policeman"?

[bradiston]

10 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This is an arrogant fool, who was booted out of immigration, due to his constant ranting about the evil nature of foreigners. He had no business being appointed to a high position within the RTP. Maybe a janitor, or a street cop. Maybe. 

 

His reputation as a crime fighter is hogwash, and just great PR on his part. 

 

He is guilty by association. Anyone in that position has to be corrupt. The RTP is the greatest pyramid scheme in Thailand. 

 

Where is he hiding the billions of baht? 

An insane rant with not a shred of evidence. A veritable nest of bees in your bonnet. What's your problem, Spidey?

[spidermike007]

7 minutes ago, bradiston said:

An insane rant with not a shred of evidence. A veritable nest of bees in your bonnet. What's your problem, Spidey?

You need evidence of his constant ranting while the director of immigration? Were you living here at that time? Were you hiding under a rock? 

 

As deputy director of the RTP, he is guilty until proven innocent. That is just how the organization is formed. 

Edited April 16 by spidermike007

[soalbundy]

32 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This is an arrogant fool, who was booted out of immigration, due to his constant ranting about the evil nature of foreigners. He had no business being appointed to a high position within the RTP. Maybe a janitor, or a street cop. Maybe. 

 

His reputation as a crime fighter is hogwash, and just great PR on his part. 

 

He is guilty by association. Anyone in that position has to be corrupt. The RTP is the greatest pyramid scheme in Thailand. 

 

Where is he hiding the billions of baht? 

Are we to gather from your post that you don't like him?

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

It’s as if he were trying to prove he is the proverbial cat with nine lives.

He has, along with a lot of information on people that could be embarrassing should it be leaked out.

[bradiston]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

You need evidence of his constant ranting while the director of immigration? Were you living here at that time? Were you hiding under a rock? 

 

As deputy director of the RTP, he is guilty until proven innocent. That is just how the organization is formed. 

I was here. No idea what you're talking about, as, I suspect, neither do you.

[ronster]

Should rename him yo-yo as his career goes up and down constantly ! 

[mfd101]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

He is guilty by association. Anyone in that position has to be corrupt.

Policemen - like politicians - have to deal with the real world as it is - dirty, grey, impure. Dealing with it on a daily basis involves compromise, not purity.

 

In politics the unrealistic longing for purity produces fascism. Trump is a product of this longing in a naive electorate. In law enforcement, every day a policeman has to decide what is worth pursuing (because bad enough and provable enough) and what isn't. Adults understand that.

 

 

[retarius]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

This is an arrogant fool, who was booted out of immigration, due to his constant ranting about the evil nature of foreigners. He had no business being appointed to a high position within the RTP. Maybe a janitor, or a street cop. Maybe. 

 

His reputation as a crime fighter is hogwash, and just great PR on his part. 

 

He is guilty by association. Anyone in that position has to be corrupt. The RTP is the greatest pyramid scheme in Thailand. 

 

Where is he hiding the billions of baht? 

You have a problem mate. Think about what you are saying. This is no more than a vehement evidence free rant. Take a cup of something and calm down. 

[spidermike007]

6 minutes ago, retarius said:

You have a problem mate. Think about what you are saying. This is no more than a vehement evidence free rant. Take a cup of something and calm down. 

Believe me, I have thought about it. Big joke has perpetrated a brilliant job of deluding some folks into believing he is a crime fighter and that he is free of corruption. Quite the opposite is most likely the truth. 

 

And anyone who does not remember his xenophobic ranting as director of immigration, has memory issues. He was fired for his incessant, non stop, virulent nonsense. This man is toxic, and likely guilty as the day is long. 

 

The real problem here, is the willingness to buy into his hypocritical white knight sales pitch. 

Edited April 17 by spidermike007

[spidermike007]

18 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Policemen - like politicians - have to deal with the real world as it is - dirty, grey, impure. Dealing with it on a daily basis involves compromise, not purity.

 

In politics the unrealistic longing for purity produces fascism. Trump is a product of this longing in a naive electorate. In law enforcement, every day a policeman has to decide what is worth pursuing (because bad enough and provable enough) and what isn't. Adults understand that.

 

 

That applies to real law enforcement, not the RTP, which is a franchise to steal from the nation. 

[AhFarangJa]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

This is an arrogant fool, who was booted out of immigration, due to his constant ranting about the evil nature of foreigners. He had no business being appointed to a high position within the RTP. Maybe a janitor, or a street cop. Maybe. 

 

His reputation as a crime fighter is hogwash, and just great PR on his part. 

 

He is guilty by association. Anyone in that position has to be corrupt. The RTP is the greatest pyramid scheme in Thailand. 

 

Where is he hiding the billions of baht? 

Many people on here seem to have short memories. However, I agree with you that He is a xenophobic racist in the same mould as A-nut-in. I still remember his rhetoric about unruly Farangs, and tarring everyone with the same brush. His whistle stop tours of Thailand's provinces rocking the boat in the name of protecting Thailand. His famous rant that there are now no more overstayers in the Kingdom thanks to his efforts, yet we still see people arrested for years, and years of overstay. I believe it was all smoke and mirrors to divert attention. As you rightly say, to get anywhere in the RTP you have to be corrupt, that is just the way it is, and always will be.

[spidermike007]

45 minutes ago, bradiston said:

I was here. No idea what you're talking about, as, I suspect, neither do you.

He was warned many times about his constant anti foreigner outbursts with the media. When he was finally fired from immigration, the PM had this to say, back in 2020.

 

In an order, issued today by the Prime Minister, Pol Lt-Gen Surachate, who is currently working as a civil servant attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, was told not to do anything which could be deemed to be gross misconduct, such as performing his duty dishonestly, filing false reports, bypassing his superior, abusing his authority, being careless in the performance of his duties, abandoning his duty or doing anything which could be deemed to be persecution or oppression of others.

[Gsxrnz]

Ask him who gets the 400k+ baht in the bank accounts of deceased O/OA visa holders, and why did he change the rules for no apparent reason?

[Stevemercer]

I reckon Surachate is among the least corrupt in the current Thai police higher echelons. He is the only one who might have a go at much needed reform if he wins the top job. Appointees to the top job are usually just sitting out their time until retirement,and to boost their potential post-retirement income, and will not rock the boat.  Surachate has 6 years left and might try to rock the boat.

[Wrwest]

Reminds me of the Japanese saying I learned, "The nail that sticks up, gets hammered down".

Edited April 17 by Wrwest

[sammieuk1]

On the bright side Big Ballsak is offering 2/1 on Standing Jokes survival 🤔 

[ryxyz]

I never liked him, but I don't appreciate how they're working hard to bring him down. And I believe he's being prosecuted because he was somehow involved with the shinawatras saga.

[worgeordie]

He sorted out the problems at Chiang Mai immigration ,which I am grateful for,

In my books he's OK ,I think his problems started when he criticized the cost of

some X-ray machines bought by Immigration....

 

regards geordie

[Accidental Tourist]

Is just Thailand...as it always was...I am witnesses this for now 29 years and nothing will change until TRUE democracy will arrive 

[smew]

Undermine public trust… big joke

[Scottie12]

I totally agree with bradiston,look at the houses and cars he's got on a policeman's salary. This is the man that stopped the annual income letter from consulates to support retirement visas thus making life more difficult for many law abiding retirees.

[mikebell]

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

their hostility threatened to escalate and undermine public trust in the police force.

Twenty years too late (in my Thailand experience).  The public have zero trust in them and fear their power.

[brianthainess]

4 hours ago, ronster said:

Should rename him yo-yo as his career goes up and down constantly ! 

Or rubber ball. What was that old song 'Like a rubber ball you'll come bouncing back to me'

[Yagoda]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

This is an arrogant fool, who was booted out of immigration, due to his constant ranting about the evil nature of foreigners. He had no business being appointed to a high position within the RTP. Maybe a janitor, or a street cop. Maybe. 

 

His reputation as a crime fighter is hogwash, and just great PR on his part. 

 

He is guilty by association. Anyone in that position has to be corrupt. The RTP is the greatest pyramid scheme in Thailand. 

 

Where is he hiding the billions of baht? 

You know nothing. You just embarass yourslef.

[Confuscious]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

This is an arrogant fool, who was booted out of immigration, due to his constant ranting about the evil nature of foreigners.

 

Whatever evil you wish upon others will return to you in 10-fold, dixit the teachings of Buddha.
 

[bradiston]

49 minutes ago, Scottie12 said:

I totally agree with bradiston,look at the houses and cars he's got on a policeman's salary. This is the man that stopped the annual income letter from consulates to support retirement visas thus making life more difficult for many law abiding retirees.

I think you mean spidermike. I'm in the pro camp. And the annual income letter was stopped by the embassies, not by the RTP