Acting National Police Chief Police General Kittirat Phanphet removed Police General Surachate Hakparn from government service on Thursday. This followed a meeting with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at Government House. On Friday, the Southern Thai Association issued a strong letter of endorsement of the embattled former deputy police chief. It said he remained the President of the organisation and was innocent until proven guilty under Thai law.

One of Thailand’s oldest associations endorses Big Joke after suspension amid police crisis. The Southern Thai Association backed General Surachate Hakparn, also known as ‘Big Joke,’ after he was fired on Thursday by acting National Police Chief General Kittirat Phanphet amid ongoing police corruption allegations.

One of Thailand’s oldest public associations on Friday issued a strong endorsement of General Surachate Hakparn. Big Joke was fired by acting National Police Chief General Kittirat Phanphet on Thursday after consulting with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at Government House. The temporary removal of General Surachate or Big Joke from government service could spell the end of his career.

 

Thailand’s favourite police officer has now been arrested by order of a court, found guilty by a three-member panel set up by the Prime Minister and hastily removed. In short, it means the top cop is now precluded from becoming Thailand’s next National Police Commissioner. However, his demise can only spell bad news for the Royal Thai Police. It certainly comes amid a cloud of controversy and crisis that warrants urgent investigation by accountable public authorities outside the force.

 

On Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours after reports that Deputy National Police Chief General Surachate Hakparn had been suspended from government service, he was endorsed by one of the country’s oldest representative associations.

 

The Southern Thai Association under Royal Patronage emphasised that General Surachate would continue in his role as President of the organisation. At the same time, it highlighted that the top cop can appeal the decision by the acting national police chief.

 

by Joseph O' Connor

 

Full story: Thai Examiner.com 2024-04-20

 

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This is not over yet,a bigger storm is brewing.

He has some real enemies and some powerful allies.

Will the truth ever come out?Maybe,if he can stay alive.

We all now who is running the country now,and it is not the elected government.

We live in interesting times!

 

Edited April 19, 20242 yr by jvs

1 hour ago, jvs said:

This is not over yet,a bigger storm is brewing.

He has some real enemies and some powerful allies.

Will the truth ever come out?Maybe,if he can stay alive.

We all now who is running the country now,and it is not the elected government.

We live in interesting times!

 

They will find a fix for this, a good accountant and lawyer and it's no problem, to many fish to fry. 

At some point he may want to talk.  Then, he will be back probably with a promotion as it was all a misunderstanding. 

years ago he suspended and transferred before returning as the best and brightest. I wonder what that was all about, what was said behind doors that he could return to his meteoric rise before crashing it yet again

2 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

BIg Joke turned out to be a joke after all...

Removed quickly to try to cover up all the other rotten apples.

I still don't get the nickname. 

5 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

sez the gimp....

gimpy what is the question! 

Big Kittirat is now known as Big No Joke 🤔

Oh how the once mighty have fallen, but with his credentials and experience, he will not have any problems finding a lucrative

job in the private sector...

45 minutes ago, Bobthegimp said:

I still don't get the nickname. 

"Joke" in Thai also refers to morning's porridge, maybe the man is BIG on eating porridge, who knows with 

Thai nicknames that to us foreignness sound, most of the times funny and out of context...

Edited April 19, 20242 yr by ezzra

48 minutes ago, Bobthegimp said:

I still don't get the nickname. 

Big Jok? Apparently he likes rice porridge, Jok.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

One of Thailand’s oldest associations endorses Big Joke after suspension amid police crisis.

What does that mean?

Do they think he is innocent?

Do they don't care if he is innocent, they want that he keeps his job even if he is guilty?

 

Or are all top cops and officials corrupt and the question is only which of them are nearer aligned to their interests?

He keeps bouncing back , must have the keys to multiple skeletons in closets!

Thai Examiner? Rubbish!

29 minutes ago, Thailand said:

He keeps bouncing back , must have the keys to multiple skeletons in closets!

 

This.

His 'little book of secrets', the type of book they all seem to have to one degree or another, may still hold a few toe curlers.

 

 

Is there a less relevant organization in the nation? Who cares what they think? They made an error by appointing him as president. Just as the government made an error by appointing this creep as chief of immigration, and then deputy chief of the RTP, where he is guilty by association.

 

Lock him up! 

fired or not, he has his powerful friends in and out police to continue business as usual...

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Is there a less relevant organization in the nation? Who cares what they think? They made an error by appointing him as president. Just as the government made an error by appointing this creep as chief of immigration, and then deputy chief of the RTP, where he is guilty by association.

 

Lock him up! 

Since when has "guilty by association" had any legal meaning at all?

On 4/20/2024 at 10:49 AM, fondue zoo said:

 

This.

His 'little book of secrets', the type of book they all seem to have to one degree or another, may still hold a few toe curlers.

 

 

More like toe cutters

Isn’t this the guy that took a sabbatical break in a Thai buddhist temple in the US until things had cooled down in his professional life a few years ago?

If I were him I would go on the run, come back, and be deathly ill. Go to the police hospital where he will be nursed back to health in one month then run for president.  

Edited April 21, 20242 yr by Gknrd

On 4/20/2024 at 12:14 PM, bradiston said:

Since when has "guilty by association" had any legal meaning at all?

"Guilty" doesn't seem to have a great legal meaning either.

On 4/20/2024 at 6:03 AM, Bobthegimp said:

I still don't get the nickname. 

 

Well, he represents Thai police. Hence the nickname.