Top Thailand cop 'Big Joke' sacked over gambling scandal, fraud
Thailand has dismissed its former deputy police chief, Surachate Hakparn, over allegations of financial fraud and involvement in an illegal gambling network. The dismissal order, signed by national police chief Kitrat Phanphet on Tuesday, follows a disciplinary committee’s decision to remove Surachate from service due to a serious breach of conduct.
Surachate, popularly known as “Big Joke,” was implicated in a 2023 investigation into the online gambling network “Betflix”.
He was charged with money laundering, which he has denied. His dismissal follows a police statement confirming the action was in line with “disciplinary procedures for officers under investigation”.
Surachate now has 30 days to appeal his removal. If his appeal fails, he will lose his police rank and be required to return all royal decorations. Following the dismissal, he will not be entitled to a pension.
The dismissal came at a time when the Thai government has delayed its review of the proposed Entertainment Complex Bill to allow more time for public consultation. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra explained that the bill requires thorough consideration and that public feedback, including opposing views, must be carefully assessed before proceeding. The bill had been expected to proceed to the Cabinet for review this week, but Paetongtarn stated her government preferred to proceed cautiously rather than rushing the process.
Appeal process
Surachate can appeal the dismissal with the Police Ethics Protection Committee within 30 days. The committee must rule within 120 days but can extend deliberations twice, each for 60 days.
If the dismissal is overturned, he must be reinstated within 30 days. If upheld, he can make a final appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court within 90 days. The court’s decision, expected to take up to two years, will be final.
Charges & allegations
The investigation against Surachate began after authorities charged 22 individuals linked to an online gambling operation. Financial transactions reportedly connected multiple police officers, including Surachate, to the illicit network. Based on these findings, the disciplinary committee, chaired by deputy police commissioner-general Kraiboon Suadsong, voted for his dismissal on 7 March 2025.
A court had already issued an arrest warrant for Surachate on 2 April 2024, further escalating the case against him.
Internal police feud and power struggles
Surachate’s dismissal follows months of controversy and internal conflicts within the Thai police force. In August 2023, a royal command removed him from the force on the Police Commission’s recommendation. He appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court, which upheld his removal in December but left the decision on his final punishment to the police.
However, a long-standing rivalry between Surachate and police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol intensified in 2023. Despite Surachate’s seniority, Torsak was appointed police chief, fuelling factional tensions. Later, in March 2024, then-Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin moved both officers to inactive posts due to their ongoing conflict.
Rise and fall of Surachate
Born in 1970 in Songkhla, Surachate was a well-known figure in Thai law enforcement. The son of a police officer, he rose through the ranks, becoming chief of the Immigration Bureau in 2018. He was also known for his media presence, often positioning himself at high-profile crime scenes.
His career was marked by controversy. In 2020, gunmen fired seven bullets into his Lexus in Bangkok. He denied staging the incident and claimed it was linked to a procurement dispute over an expensive biometric screening system for immigration control. The case was never solved, and a senior officer was later dismissed for leaking a recording in which a superior instructed him not to pursue the investigation.
