12-3-2025 (BANGKOK) Within Thailand’s law enforcement hierarchy, one of its most prominent police figures has been stripped of his position amidst allegations of illicit gambling operations and financial misconduct.
The Royal Thai Police announced the termination of Deputy Police Chief Surachate Hakparn on 11 March, following his entanglement in the ‘Betflix’ saga – a sweeping investigation into an underground online betting network that came to light in 2023. Despite his steadfast denial of money laundering accusations, Hakparn, who earned the peculiar moniker ‘Big Joke’, found himself suspended pending a thorough probe into the allegations.
The dismissal marks a startling fall from grace for the senior officer, whose career had been closely intertwined with Thailand’s military-affiliated previous administration. His professional journey took several intriguing turns, including a puzzling vanishing act in 2019, followed by his subsequent emergence as a police strategy consultant under former Premier Prayut Chan-o-Cha’s leadership in 2021.
This development arrives at a crucial juncture when Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has called for intensified police action against human trafficking and narcotics-related offences. The timing is particularly poignant, coinciding with the recent death of disgraced officer Thitisan Utthanaphon – dubbed ‘Joe Ferrari’ for his lavish automotive collection – who was serving a life sentence for the killing of a suspect during interrogation.
The police establishment, maintaining its procedural stance, has confirmed that Hakparn retains the right to contest his dismissal within a 30-day window. This sentiment was echoed by Aek Angsananont, a former deputy police chief now serving on the national police committee, in his statement to Thai PBS.
In Thailand, where gambling largely remains prohibited, authorities maintain vigilant efforts to dismantle illegal betting operations, particularly those with overseas connections. Hakparn’s earlier appointment as Immigration Bureau chief in September 2018 came under the patronage of then-Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, highlighting the complex web of power relationships within Thai law enforcement circles.
