A deputy chief of Thailand’s national police force, Police Gen. Surachate Hakparn, turned himself in on Tuesday after a court issued a warrant for his arrest on money laundering charges. Surachate had recently been suspended from his duties due to his involvement in infighting among the department’s top ranks. The Bangkok Criminal Court approved the arrest warrant for Surachate earlier in the day after he failed to report for questioning despite three summonses. Surachate complied with the warrant, stating that he was not worried about the charges and would let due process take its course.
Less than two weeks prior to his arrest, Surachate was suspended along with national police chief Torsak Sukvimol following allegations that he was involved in an illegal online gambling operation. The public feud between the two top police officials appeared to be a sign of serious conflict within the highest ranks of the department. Police had raided Surachate’s residence in September the previous year in connection to an illegal online gambling network, leading to the arrest of eight of his subordinates. The position of chief of the national police was being filled around that time, with Torsak ultimately being appointed.
Thailand’s national police force is known for its internal politicking and longstanding reputation for corruption at all levels. Police had been intensifying their investigation into abuse of power, bribery, and money laundering allegations against Surachate, openly accusing him of being connected with online gambling operators. Surachate, along with his lawyers, launched a press campaign asserting his innocence, claiming foul play to discredit him, and accusing other high-ranking police officers of receiving money from online gambling networks. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin signed an order to suspend both Surachate and Torsak and to establish a special committee to investigate the allegations.
Surachate had been regarded as a rising star in the police force after his appointment to the Police Immigration Bureau in 2018, gaining fame for his media appearances. However, he was suddenly removed from his post and disappeared from public view in 2019. He eventually returned to the national police agency in 2021 when then-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha appointed him as an adviser to the police chief, allowing him to climb the ranks once again. The arrest of Surachate, along with the suspension of the national police chief, highlights the ongoing power struggles and corruption within Thailand’s law enforcement agencies, further tarnishing the reputation of the police force.
