Big Joke changes name for better luck amid gambling scandal

[webfact]

The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, changed his name, adding one more letter for better luck.

 

Big Joke was recently removed from his position following an alleged involvement in a gambling and money laundering operation. It is alleged there were financial connections between him and a gambling network.

 

The deputy commissioner denied all the allegations and claimed that a conflict within the RTP led someone to undermine and ruin his good name and reputation. These allegations affected the outcome of a promotion as RTP commissioner during the recent selection last year.

 

Big Joke refused to step down from his position, continuing to fight for justice. He has called for an investigation into the legality and fairness of the order to remove him but there have been no public updates on the investigation as yet.

This is not the first time Big Joke has faced career challenges on his path to becoming the RTP Commissioner. According to a report by The Standard, he was accused of accepting a bribe in a human trafficking case at a karaoke bar in Isaan in 2010, though he was later exonerated.

In 2019, Big Joke was reassigned from his role as Director of the Immigration Bureau to a position as an advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office. He was appointed as an assistant to the RTP Commissioner in 2021 and subsequently became the RTP Deputy Commissioner.

 

Big Joke faced another issue in 2023 after his home was raided due to his alleged involvement in the gambling operation, and his financial transactions, which were allegedly connected with the gambling ring, were found this year.

 

After multiple crises in his life, Big Joke decided to seek better luck with a new auspicious name. In Thai, his former name was spelt as สุรเชษฐ์. For his new name, Big Joke added one Thai letter, “ช”, making it สุรเชชษฐ์.

 

Several news agencies raised questions about the pronunciation of his new name. Some speculated that after the change it would be pronounced as Surachatesa or Surachaechot. However, Big Joke assured yesterday, July 30, that his name would be pronounced the same as Surachate.

 

by Petch Petpailin
Photo via BangkokBizNews

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-31

 

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[Pouatchee]

Can a leopard change its spots?

[CallumWK]

32 minutes ago, webfact said:

Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, changed his name, adding one more letter for better luck.

 

BIGG Joke?

[ikke1959]

That is a big joke......one letter more for more luck.. maybe do your duty and don't be corrupt is more effective

[Emdog]

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"

[TheFishman1]

He’s corrupt as all of them they caught him for one thing one time I guarantee you he is dirtier than dirt. They’re correct from the top to the bottom too bad they can’t check overseas accounts. I forgot he married a woman who is a multi multi billionaire, isn’t that what they usually say, what happened to the guy with all the million dollar watches he borrowed from his neighbor not to mention they still can’t find the Red Bull kid that’s amazing. Oh that’s how they got their name. Amazing Thailand TIT. 

[Zack61]

I don’t think I’ve met a single Thai person who hasn’t changed their name at least once. 

[Zack61]

2 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

BIGG Joke?

Big Joker

[mfd101]

Big Jock

[stix40]

😂 😂 😂 😂 

Maybe Brian ?

His been a naughty boy and his not coming out ! 

OIT 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

BIGG Joke?

Big Joker?

[Tarteso]

 

[RSD1]

Once a Big Joke, always a Big Joke. 

[sanabavy IV]

big joker

[leverito]

So easy people…

But does he asked monks before changing?

Without getting monks resolution no any change will be seen by Thai clouds.

[hkt83100]

3 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

BIGG Joke?

Maybe he added an "r" after "joke"?

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

Can a leopard change its spots?

No, but it could call itself a panther if it thought that it would change its luck which is what Surachate has done and what countless other Thai people do.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

That is a big joke......one letter more for more luck.. maybe do your duty and don't be corrupt is more effective

He's been found guilty of corruption?

[klauskunkel]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Some speculated that after the change it would be pronounced as Surachatesa or Surachaechot. However, Big Joke assured yesterday, July 30, that his name would be pronounced the same as Surachate.

... and that's one of the reasons why the Thai Language Seen as Vital National Symbol

[TheAppletons]

Given the situation he's in, I'm gobsmacked that he's changed his name to Big Poker.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, TheFishman1 said:

He’s corrupt as all of them they caught him for one thing one time I guarantee you he is dirtier than dirt. They’re correct from the top to the bottom too bad they can’t check overseas accounts.

What 'corruption' has he been found guilty of exactly?  Your "guarantee" is not worth a carrot.

[purcho]

1 hour ago, TheFishman1 said:

He’s corrupt as all of them they caught him for one thing one time I guarantee you he is dirtier than dirt. They’re correct from the top to the bottom too bad they can’t check overseas accounts. I forgot he married a woman who is a multi multi billionaire, isn’t that what they usually say, what happened to the guy with all the million dollar watches he borrowed from his neighbor not to mention they still can’t find the Red Bull kid that’s amazing. Oh that’s how they got their name. Amazing Thailand TIT. 

I think you need to fact check what you have posted as well as a grammar check mate.

[Liverpool Lou]

3 minutes ago, TheAppletons said:

Given the situation he's in, I'm gobsmacked that he's changed his name to Big Poker.

"...he's changed his name to Big Poker".

But he hasn't.

[Liverpool Lou]

Just now, purcho said:

I think you need to fact check what you have posted as well as a grammar check mate.

Hear, hear!

[TheAppletons]

6 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"...he's changed his name to Big Poker".

But he hasn't.

 

  Oooooooh.  Good catch.  

[Joe Boy Walton]

1 hour ago, Zack61 said:

I don’t think I’ve met a single Thai person who hasn’t changed their name at least once. 

True that. Although how some of the English names get selected is beyond me. Siriwan becomes Rose? Jang becomes Laura?  Aom becomes Beth? I mean.

[Rimmer]

A flame has been removed

[Caldera]

News Flash: It won't help!

 

[rocketboy2]

Maybe.

Glib Joke

[thailand49]

These Thai nicknames which he got early from his parents from my experience " Big Joke " his parent didnt play around some do a number of Thais are name " BIG" they are opposite of the name another " Champ "