In yesterday’s morning raid, the Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn expressed his belief that the search of his residence was driven by internal “disputes” within the Royal Thai Police hierarchy. Surachate, until yesterday, considered a leading contender for the position of national police chief, contested the legitimacy of the search warrant, which he claims lacks proper authorisation.
Surachate, aka. Big Joke, has been digging deep into police corruption and links with ‘powerful people’ and may have stepped on a few toes.
Following the raid at his private residence in Bangkok yesterday, Surachate has initiated a review by his legal team to examine the warrant’s validity, asserting that those who applied for the warrant may have “deceived the court”.
The warrant used for the house search referenced only the house number, failing to identify the owner. Surachate argues that this omission misled the court, as his ownership of the house is widely known by both locals and fellow police officers.
Surachate disclosed that the police conducting the raid were apparently unaware of his ownership, despite the operation being led by the cybercrime police chief. The search yielded no illegal items, prompting Surachate to announce his intention to take legal action against the police involved.
He suggested that the raid may stem from internal divisions and gamesmanship within the police force, given his involvement in significant cases with potential repercussions for various interest groups.
Regarding police officers facing arrest warrants related to alleged involvement in online gambling, Surachate acknowledged them as his subordinates. He emphasized that if they are indeed implicated in online gambling activities, they should confess and face appropriate consequences, as everyone is subject to the same laws.
