Thailand’s Anti-Corruption Police is set to submit a completed investigation file to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) regarding alleged bribery tied to illegal online gambling operations by former Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Police General Surachate Hakparn (as depicted in the featured image).
The former Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police has been accused of influencing legal proceedings through improper payments. Surachate, widely known by his nickname “Big Joke”, has denied all allegations.
Reportedly, the Police Major General Jaroonkiat Panngaeo confirmed that the investigation file includes witness statements, financial records, and supporting documentation. He stressed that the submission of the file does not imply guilt and that all involved are entitled to due process.
Decision within a month
Once the file is formally handed over, the NACC will have 30 days to decide whether to pursue the case or return it to the police for further investigation. The case is the latest chapter in a long-running scandal linked to illegal online gambling, an issue Thai authorities say poses serious risks due to its connections with organised crime, money laundering, and corruption within state institutions.
Most forms of gambling are illegal in Thailand, yet online betting platforms, many operated from overseas, remain widely accessible. Authorities have repeatedly attempted to shut down illicit gambling websites, but enforcement has proven difficult, particularly when operators are based in foreign jurisdictions.
Behind the ‘Betflix’ raid
Surachate has been under investigation since a series of police raids in 2023 targeting an illegal online gambling network known as “Betflix”. He was later charged with money laundering in connection with the case, accusations he has rejected. In March 2025, he was formally suspended from the police force under disciplinary procedures.
A senior and high-profile figure, Surachate has held several prominent roles within the Royal Thai Police. He was appointed head of the Immigration Bureau in 2018 by then–Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and was widely seen as a contender for the top police post. He disappeared from public view in 2019 under unclear circumstances before returning in 2021 as a special adviser on police strategy.
Following his dismissal, Surachate was granted 30 days to appeal. Former deputy police chief Aek Angsananont, now a member of the national police committee, said he retains the right to contest the decision.
Rift grows b/w top officials
However, rather than challenging, Surachate has launched a counter-offensive. In November 2025, he presented new evidence to a parliamentary committee and filed a criminal complaint against National Police Commissioner General Kittirat Phanphet. He accused the police chief of dereliction of duty under Section 157 of the Criminal Code, alleging that a disciplinary committee was improperly formed to block his reinstatement.
Surachate claims the internal process inside the department is biased and designed to harass him after earlier gambling-related accusations failed to remove him from office. The police leadership has not publicly responded to the latest claims.
However, the rift has dented public confidence in the department, a situation worsened by recent cases of officer misconduct and the death of former policeman Thitisan “Joe Ferrari” Utthanaphon, who was serving a life sentence for murder. At the same time, the public continues to oppose casino legalisation.
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