SURACHATE HAKPARN MAY FACE ARREST UNLESS HE REPORTS TO POLICE BY APRIL 1

SURACHATE HAKPARN MAY FACE ARREST UNLESS HE REPORTS TO POLICE BY APRIL 1

An unnamed source says Thailand’s deputy national police chief may be arrested if he fails to report to police for a third time.

Surachate Hakparn (yes, the one often nicknamed ‘Bog Joke’ in the Thai media) has been summonsed on two previous occasions to hear charges of money laundering, but has failed to show each time, according to a Nation Thailand report.

On Wednesday, March 27, a third summons was issued, which requires Surachate to present himself by April 1. Having failed to do so twice, he could be arrested if there’s a third offence.

The third summons notice requires him to report to the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Division 2 command by April 1. Failure to do so could result in investigators seeking an arrest warrant for him.

The first summons required Surachate to report on March 21, but he didn’t show. A second was delivered to a Bangkok home belonging to Surachate and required him to show up on March 26. Again, he failed to do so, saying he no longer lived at the address where the notice was delivered.

The embattled deputy national police chief faces charges of money laundering in connection with the BNK Master gambling website. The authorities say his name is linked to a bank account used by those involved in the online gambling site. He is accused of colluding in money laundering and being involved in money laundering while employed as a state official.

Last week, Surachate and his superior, Torsak Sukvimol, were transferred to inactive posts in the Prime Minister’s office on the orders of PM Srettha Thavisin. The sidelining of both senior officers comes amid rumours of conflict in the Royal Thai Police and allegations that some high-ranking officers turned a blind eye – or worse – to illegal gambling networks.