2-4-2024 (BANGKOK) Deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday, just hours after investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest on charges of money laundering. Surachate arrived at the Tao Poon police station in Bangkok at approximately 5:30pm, accompanied by his associates who parked their Toyota Alphard van with Songkhla license plates behind the station.
Once inside the police station, Surachate met with investigators while photographers were asked not to take pictures. Pol Maj Gen Thinnakorn Rangmart, deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), later confirmed that Surachate was being questioned.
The events unfolded after a day filled with dramatic developments. Police had issued three summonses to the embattled deputy national chief, but he had declined to respond. As a result, investigators filed an application for an arrest warrant at the Criminal Court on Tuesday morning. The court approved the warrant at 4pm, citing sufficient evidence to support the request.
The arrest warrant accuses Surachate of colluding in money laundering and being a state official involved in money laundering, in violation of Sections 5, 9, and 10 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Surachate, also known as “Big Joke,” is currently serving in an inactive post following the orders of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who also sidelined national police chief Torsak Sukvimol. The two senior officers have been embroiled in a longstanding feud, publicly trading accusations of involvement with illegal gambling networks.
On March 12, the court had approved warrants for the arrest of three police officers and a civilian who were suspected of money laundering in connection with the BNK Master gambling website. The individuals were identified as Pol Col Kittichai Sangkhathaworn, Pol Sgt Natthawut Wadwaew, Pol Sgt Natthanan Chuchak, and Napansakorn Haekerd. On the same day, the court had also issued a summons for Surachate.
Despite three summonses being issued, investigators were unable to physically deliver them to Surachate. Consequently, they sought an arrest warrant from the court.
Earlier, Surachate had informed the press that he planned to embark on a family trip to the United Kingdom and would return to Thailand on April 1. There were also reports suggesting that he had submitted a letter to the chief justice of the Criminal Court to inquire about a police request for a warrant.
The letter also mentioned that Pol Lt Col Krit Pariyaket had sent a letter seeking justice to the Department of Special Investigation. In the letter, Pariyaket requested that the DSI accept his case, which is currently being handled by Tao Poon police, as a special case. The police investigation into Pariyaket involves allegations of money laundering connected to a gambling network with over 300 million baht in circulation.
According to the letter, the investigation met the criteria for a special case under the law, granting the DSI the authority to handle it.
