Embattled deputy police chief claims PM has abused authority

[snoop1130]

 

Suspended deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, filed a petition today with the chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), demanding an investigation into Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s alleged abuse of authority.

 

Surachate is asking the NACC to investigate the prime minister’s appointment of Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol as the national police chief last year, his own suspension from the police service by the acting national police chief and the motives behind the investigation into the BNKMaster online gambling platform, as part of which he and some of his close aides have been charged with money laundering.

 

Surachate has also challenged the authority of the police investigation team. He claims that they failed to submit their findings to the NACC within the legally mandated 30 days of receiving a complaint against him and his men, hence their investigation has no standing and they have no authority to conduct the probe.

 

Caption: File photo : Embattled deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-04-22

 

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[Artisi]

This is going to be an interesting battle and powerplay, stay tuned for the next episode. 

Edited April 22 by Artisi

[TroubleandGrumpy]

Wow - this is definitely going to be BIG and it is no Joke.  Massive flow on issues will come out of this.

 

If Big Joke is clean then those in power are dirty and they are desperate to stop him becomming the big boss bacause he will get rid of them all - and the PM will fall for having sided with Torsak Sukvimol against Surachate Hakparn.

 

This aint going to go away.

[dinsdale]

This joint is like a bunch of squabbling schoolchildren. It's all part of a corrupt system where laws are manipulated and corrupted to benefit one corrupt side opposed to the other.  

Edited April 22 by dinsdale

[dinsdale]

49 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Wow - this is definitely going to be BIG and it is no Joke.  Massive flow on issues will come out of this.

 

If Big Joke is clean then those in power are dirty and they are desperate to stop him becomming the big boss bacause he will get rid of them all - and the PM will fall for having sided with Torsak Sukvimol against Surachate Hakparn.

 

This aint going to go away.

I agree to a point but no one is clean at the top of any organisation in Thailand. Take the corrupt out of the government, the army and the police and you wouldn't be left with many people.

[marin]

56 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

If Big Joke is clean then those in power are dirty and they are desperate to stop him becomming the big boss bacause he will get rid of them all - and the PM will fall for having sided with Torsak Sukvimol against Surachate Hakparn.

 

Big joke is not and has never been clean. Cultivated an image in the media that helped him, hated in both the police and immigration for a variety of reasons. 

[Tropicalevo]

 

18 minutes ago, marin said:

Big joke is not and has never been clean. Cultivated an image in the media that helped him, hated in both the police and immigration for a variety of reasons. 

That is a very definite statement.

Do you have a reason for saying that or is it just an opinion?

My own view is that he may be clean. Too many people want him out of the way.

The dirty ones usually keep a low profile but I will listen to reasoned arguments or the evidence.

I would love to hear Chuwit's thoughts on him.

[norfolkandchance]

1 hour ago, marin said:

Big joke is not and has never been clean. Cultivated an image in the media that helped him, hated in both the police and immigration for a variety of reasons. 

Have you evidence of this.

[webfact]

PM Accused Of Power Abuse Over Police/Money Laundering Scandals
By Thai Newsroom Reporters

 

Former deputy police chief Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn at the National Anti-Corruption Commission, April 22, 2024. Photos: Naewna

 

PRIME MINISTER SRETTHA Thavisin was today (Apr. 22) accused of perpetrating power abuse which has allegedly put the National Police headquarters in trouble and rendered injustice to former deputy police chief Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn.

 

Pol. Gen. Surachate, nicknamed Big Joke, today filed a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission against the prime minister who recently ordered for his removal from the post of deputy police chief after he had been suspended from duty pending ongoing investigation into alleged involvement in money laundering charges. The Pheu Thai-backed prime minister had ordered acting police chief Pol. Gen. Kittrat Panpetch to immediately depose Pol. Gen. Surachate as deputy police chief.

 

In his petition submitted to the NACC, Pol. Gen. Surachate has accused the prime minister of perpetrating power abuse by not only deposing him of the post of deputy police chief but having earlier named Pol. Gen. Torsak Sukwimon as police chief allegedly on nepotistic basis.

 

Police chief Pol. Gen. Torsak and Pol. Gen. Surachate have been suspended from duty and transferred to inactive posts at Government House pending the in-depth probe into the money laundering charges pertaining to enormous sums of kickbacks allegedly extorted from illegal online gambling operators and allegedly funnelled millions of baht in bribe money to their relatives and former subordinate police officers on monthly basis.

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-04-23

 

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[smedly]

they want rid of him because he is a threat to the trough and corruption - you can bet we are on;y hearing one side of the story, he is a threat to corruption - they want rid of him

 

we all know what goes on here, only a few days ago the son of a deputy minister  was stopped in his super car - where did he get the money from to own a 10m baht car - corrupt as ####

 

what a sad country - I really feel for the Thai people ..................corrupt  as ####

[Zack61]

I suspect that there will be a lot of dirty laundry aired by the time this little spat is over. 

[Zack61]

1 hour ago, smedly said:

 

we all know what goes on here, only a few days ago the son of a deputy minister  was stopped in his super car - where did he get the money from to own a 10m baht car - corrupt as ####

And there is very little attempt to hide it. Just shows the utter contempt they have and their extreme confidence that nothing will come of it. 

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Surachate has also challenged the authority of the police investigation team. He claims that they failed to submit their findings to the NACC within the legally mandated 30 days of receiving a complaint against him and his men, hence their investigation has no standing and they have no authority to conduct the probe.

The worm turns....

[Stevemercer]

I think Surachate is being set up. Now the Prime Minister has shown his complicity by siding with the {suspended) police chief. For those not convinced, please see the transcript below taken after Surachate's car was shot up when he was suspended for criticising the previous police chief and his endorsement of the biometrics contract. Would a guilty man risk his career by going against tw police chiefs?

 

From news reported in 2022 when Surachate’s Lexus was shot up. A reporter asked "Big Joke", who is currently working as an adviser at the Prime Minister's Office, to clarify the incident.

 

Police and people suspect you are behind the shooting. Is that true?

There's no reason to stage it. Whether I'll be transferred back to the police agency depends on the prime minister. It has nothing to do with their claim that I want to have the incumbent police chief replaced by his deputy so that I can make a return.

 

Today I'm forced into a corner. They bullied me and shot my car. As a former police officer, I know for sure who ordered it. If he had not been an influential figure, he would have not done it.

 

I've seen my image marred a lot because "people in power" have often thrown controversial issues at me. Joke caused troubles in the biometric system. Joke was involved in the electric BMW car plan. This is not to mention the boat and building construction projects of the IB [Immigration Bureau] which are also linked with Joke.

 

I've done nothing and was never involved in these evil issues. We have to check who spent IB budgets on the procurements. Should we buy those boats though there's no mission for them? How will IB officers pilot the boats? Will the purchase be done in favour of certain companies?

 

Why are you confident the shooting involves the biometrics controversy?

How come they bought biometrics at more than 2 billion baht? If I had overseen the project, it would have cost the IB less than 500 million baht. Do you see the huge price gap?

 

The IB spent over 300 million baht apiece though they are actually 36 million baht each. The prices are different though the system is of the same brand and even same model. That's very bad. As former IB chief, I wrote a memo to scrap the procurement.

 

My senior officer at the Royal Thai Police [RTP] asked me to settle this issue, but I rejected his request. I just want it to proceed according to the law.

 

Later I learned someone checked my car registration number and followed me. I was warned against driving to a traditional Thai massage venue. They wanted to shoot the car. It's 100% intimidation.

 

How do you respond to some police claims you wanted to have your associates sell biometrics to the IB?

That's not true. I also don't know how to do it. The person who spent IB money buying the system is in the RTP. If I had let my friends do it, I should have been able to sign the procurement.

 

Other former and incumbent IB chiefs should also feel uncomfortable about this issue, but it's only me who dares speak out. I can't let it go; otherwise, I'll be probed by the NACC [National Anti-Corruption Commission].

 

Are you at odds with Pol Gen Chakthip? (The national police chief who decided to push ahead with the procurement.)

So far there's been only the conflict over biometrics, but I've never mentioned Phi Pae [nickname of Pol Gen Chakthip]. I only said it's a conflict with a "powerful figure".

 

If Deputy Prime Minister Prawit arranges a talk between you and Pol Gen Chakthip, will you join it? (Pol Lt Gen Surachate is said to have been a close associate of Gen Prawit while he was in charge of police affairs.)

I'll be glad to join the talk. However, I insist everything must be done under the rule of law. I don't want to commit any wrongdoing.

 

The truth of the biometrics issue will be unveiled to the public sooner or later.

 

Thailand is protected by the guardian deity Phra Siam Devadhiraj. Corrupt people will eventually bear the results of what they did.

[tandor]

11 hours ago, marin said:

Big joke is not and has never been clean. Cultivated an image in the media that helped him, hated in both the police and immigration for a variety of reasons. 

Examples and instances please?

[BestB]

His rise through the ranks and fame was backed by 1 person, one who gets nice watches from dead friends. Moment that person lost power BJ started having problems.

 

it is mind blowing how some can be that thick to think he is clean when he went from tourist police captain to LT General in a matter of a year or so, which would normally take at least a decade for anyone else. 
 

it is just as mind boggling how same people think he is clean when he has “friends” paying rent for his  house and rents for his aids 

[NightSky]

12 hours ago, dinsdale said:

This joint is like a bunch of squabbling schoolchildren. It's all part of a corrupt system where laws are manipulated and corrupted to benefit one corrupt side opposed to the other.  

you’ve just summarized the entire planet

[Bangkok Barry]

11 hours ago, marin said:

Big joke is not and has never been clean. Cultivated an image in the media that helped him, hated in both the police and immigration for a variety of reasons. 

 

The image he cultivated was actually dealing with crime instead of sweeping things under the carpet. Now those whose feathers he ruffled, either his victims or those he embarrassed by actually doing his job while they didn't, are trying to pull that carpet from under him.

[soalbundy]

11 hours ago, marin said:

Big joke is not and has never been clean. Cultivated an image in the media that helped him, hated in both the police and immigration for a variety of reasons. 

I agree he isn't 'clean', who is but I am reminded of a Churchill quote, "So, you have enemies, that is good, it shows you have stood up for something".

[herfiehandbag]

12 hours ago, marin said:

Big joke is not and has never been clean. Cultivated an image in the media that helped him, hated in both the police and immigration for a variety of reasons. 

 

10 hours ago, norfolkandchance said:

Have you evidence of this.

Well, somebody shot up his car when it was parked outside a massage parlour...

 

Perhaps not "evidence", but certainly an indication that he is not universally popular!

[AustinRacing]

13 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Wow - this is definitely going to be BIG and it is no Joke.  Massive flow on issues will come out of this.

 

If Big Joke is clean then those in power are dirty and they are desperate to stop him becomming the big boss bacause he will get rid of them all - and the PM will fall for having sided with Torsak Sukvimol against Surachate Hakparn.

 

This aint going to go away.

Rather than demonstrating his innocence he’s deflecting and threatening to drag others down as well as going down himself. A sign of desperation me thinks. My Thai friends say he’s guilty as charged.  

[TigerandDog]

2 of my wife's school friends are mid ranking police and the son of one of my Thai friends is also police. I've asked them questions as to their opinions of Big Joke and they say that they don't believe he's corrupt. One of my wife's friends resigned from the RTP last month (took early retirement) because he was fed up with all the corruption his colleagues were involved in, and he was not prepared to pay 2 million baht for promotion to the next rank. They also said that BJ knows where all the skeletons in the closet are and that all this current notoriety is just another attempt to get rid of him so he doesn't become #1 in the RTP. They also made a very interesting comment along the lines of if he did leave the RTP and move into politics he would be in a better/stronger position to bring down the rampant corruption within the RTP.

Edited April 23 by TigerandDog

[bamnutsak]

This is the farthest Hapkarn has fallen. In his previous three serious brushes with accountability, the most he got was a written reprimand.

 

I'm surprised Thaksin has allowed him to accuse the PM, given the family connection, and political implications.

 

 

 

Edited April 23 by bamnutsak

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, BestB said:

it is just as mind boggling how same people think he is clean when he has “friends” paying rent for his  house and rents for his aids

I thought that the reports in the BP and here said that his wife owned the properties.

She is independently wealthy.

[Caldera]

What a guy, what a country. I need more popcorn. 

[herfiehandbag]

I don't suppose we will ever really know the truth behind the allegations of corruption, and the exact details of the conflict between "Big Jok" and his peers. I also am aware that photographs can and are chosen to "add weight" to stories; but the OP photograph, somewhat dishevelled and with that slightly manic grin, doesn't really convince that he is on top of the situation.

 

I suspect that, for the right reasons or the wrong reasons ( probably a mixture of both) he is toast.

 

As Julius Caesar is reported to have favoured: "well fed sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights. Yon Cassius (Surachate Hakparn)has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous."

 

The guys at the top are well fed sleek-headed men!

Edited April 23 by herfiehandbag

[bamnutsak]

50 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Well, somebody shot up his car when it was parked outside a massage parlour...

 

 

The "general" consensus is that this was staged by Hapkarn himself.

 

But yes, he is unpopular in the RTP given his rapid rise in the owing to elephant tickets, and strong family connections. He is 5 ~ 6 years ahead of classmates.

[klauskunkel]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He claims that they failed to submit their findings to the NACC within the legally mandated 30 days of receiving a complaint against him and his men, hence their investigation has no standing and they have no authority to conduct the probe.

He is quoting rules and regulations... Did he forget which country he is in?

[BestB]

16 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

I thought that the reports in the BP and here said that his wife owned the properties.

She is independently wealthy.

She is but reports said wealthy friend, well known local businessman owned and gave it to him free, unless there was another “twist” that I missed 

[Expat Tom]

Impossible! There is NO corruption in Thailand. Visit "Transparency.org". I am certainly not proud of where my country ranks on the World Corruption Index. Where does your country rank? Russia? ....other countries.