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Police Raid 11 Sites in Probe Linked to “Big Joke” 

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Picture courtesy of Amarin

 

Police have carried out coordinated searches at 11 locations in Bangkok and Surat Thani as part of an expanded investigation into an alleged bribery case involving gold bars weighing 246 baht, linked to the network of Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, also known as “Big Joke”. The operation was ordered by the national police chief to gather additional evidence under Section 157 of the Criminal Code and related offences, with documents, physical evidence and assets seized for further examination.

 

The searches followed a formal complaint lodged on 23 December 2025 by investigators from the Royal Thai Police with Sub-Division 5 of the Anti-Corruption Division. The complaint named Pol Gen Surachate and six other individuals, accusing them of malfeasance in office and corruption, with the alleged offences taking place at Ratchadawan Building in Chatuchak district and the parking area of the Southern Thai Association in Thawi Watthana, Bangkok, between 31 August and 1 September 2024.

 

Investigators allege that on 31 August 2024 Pol Gen Surachate summoned Pol Col Pakphum to his office at Ratchadawan Building and instructed him to deliver gold bars to Mr Ekkawit Watchawal, a commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), to influence an ongoing inquiry. It was claimed that an agreement had already been reached and that a video recording of the handover was to be made as evidence.

 

According to the investigation, the gold bars were transferred by Mr Samart Kongkaew to Pol Col Pakphum in two boxes with a combined weight of 246 baht, with a video recorded after the boxes were opened and inspected. On 1 September 2024 the gold was allegedly delivered at the Southern Thai Association car park on Kanchanaphisek Road, where investigators say a phone call was used to identify a black Toyota Alphard, the official vehicle of an NACC commissioner.

 

The investigation further alleges that a bag containing the gold bars was passed through an intermediary to the vehicle, which then immediately left the area. Police are now examining the conduct of all suspects, tracing financial transactions, verifying the origins of seized assets and identifying any additional individuals involved to complete the case file.

 

Amarin stated that reports indicate that on the evening of 26 December 2025 Pol Gen Surachate travelled to the Central Investigation Bureau headquarters to acknowledge and follow developments in the case. Authorities have said further legal steps will proceed in accordance with the evidence collected.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Police searched 11 locations linked to Pol Gen Surachate in Bangkok and Surat Thani on 26 December 2025.

• The case centres on allegations of bribery involving 246 baht of gold bars delivered in August–September 2024.

• Investigators are expanding the probe to financial trails, seized assets and additional suspects.

 

Related stories

 

Surachet-big-joke-Hakparn-sues-top-court-official-committee

 

Big-joke’s-appeal-fails-over-online-gambling-case

 

 

image.png Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-12-28


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they really want him gone/silenced

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The boy who kicked the hornet's nest

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Do they have a nice portrait of Mr Joke? Something they could put in a frame?

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I love it when the corrupt eat their own, with any luck the whole house of cards falls.

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6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Investigators allege that on 31 August 2024 Pol Gen Surachate summoned Pol Col Pakphum to his office at Ratchadawan Building and instructed him to deliver gold bars to Mr Ekkawit Watchawal, a commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), to influence an ongoing inquiry. It was claimed that an agreement had already been reached and that a video recording of the handover was to be made as evidence.

 

Where is the gold right this minute? Who gets to keep it?

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4 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

Where is the gold right this minute? Who gets to keep it?

Gold, what gold - we don't know anything about gold. 

As foreigners, would we really be that bad if Mr Big Joke was out of business handling immigration issues ? 

That's just over 500k USD at this weekend's gold prices.

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On 12/28/2025 at 6:52 AM, smedly said:

they really want him gone/silenced

Yes they do, i wonder why?  Does he know something?

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All bent as a nine-bob note

31 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Yes they do, i wonder why?  Does he know something?

Think he knows plenty about many. 

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People who live  in glass houses would be best advised not to throw stones 

19 hours ago, Artisi said:

Gold, what gold - we don't know anything about gold. 

 

On a later subsequent investigation, it was found that they were bars of soap painted gold,...................... so move along now, nothing to see here!

Not sure if the anything will change. Surachate was not at the handover so wasn't caught red-handed. The story is thin at best.

I find it amusing when people automatically just presume that this guy was truly the straight laced character he presented himself to be, and that's why he's being targeted. They are simply not taking into account that this guy was deputy police chief of the RTP, and it would be a an utter impossibility that somebody in that position would be straight and not on the take. It's likely this guy has tens of millions of dollars socked away somewhere and I'm glad they're going after him. 

 

Lock up the joke! 

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