Police deputy confronts allegations of illegal money laundering through gambling activities
Thai Deputy National Police Chief Faces Money-Laundering Charge
In a surprising turn of events, Thailand's deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, also known as Big Joke, is under investigation for money laundering, a charge he has denied. The latest update on this ongoing case is that Surachate was dismissed from his position on March 11, 2025.
The investigation began after a summons was issued to Surachate, requiring him to acknowledge the charge at the Metropolitan Police Division 2 on Thursday. The notice was placed on Sunday morning at Soi Vibhavadi 60 Road in Bangkok's Laksi district.
However, the exact nature of Surachate's alleged involvement in online gambling money laundering is not specified in the provided information.
The police officers from Thung Song Hong station faced difficulty entering Surachate's housing estate due to security guards insisting on seeing the notice. The police declined to present the notice to the security guards, leading to approximately 20 minutes of negotiation before the guards allowed the police entry.
Surachate was not present at home when the notice was placed. He has stated that he would need to review the notice's specifics to determine if the investigation into his case followed legal procedures.
National police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol was briefed on the notice and supports the legal action against Surachate. It is worth noting that Pol Gen Torsak is set to retire in September this year.
Surachate, in a statement last week, denied involvement in any online gambling network, citing a court's rejection of an arrest warrant. If Surachate deems the investigation into his case as not conducted lawfully, he would consider the notice invalid.
No further public details or outcomes regarding the investigation or any legal proceedings have been reported as of late August 2025. This developing story will continue to be monitored closely.
- The ongoing investigation into Thai Deputy National Police Chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, has raised concerns about potential links between casino-and-gambling activities and high-ranking officials, given the money-laundering charge he is facing.
- General news outlets have reported on the dismissal of Surachate from his position, while crime-and-justice sections cover the growing controversy surrounding his alleged association with casino-games, adding a new dimension to the local and international casino-games scene.
