Police Power Struggle Hits the Courts
Thailand’s police force is in turmoil as a dramatic feud spills into the courtroom.
Former deputy police chief, General Surachate Hakparn—known to all as ‘Big Joke’—has filed a defamation lawsuit against his own boss, national police chief General Kittharath Punpetch.
The row centres on allegations linking Surachate to a sensational exam scandal at Chulalongkorn University.
Defamation Lawsuit Shakes Force
On Wednesday, Surachate took his fight to the Songkhla Administrative Court.
He accuses Kittharath of releasing misleading information that painted him as a key player in the theft of law exam papers from Chulalongkorn’s evening courses.
“I’ve filed a criminal complaint for defamation because false information was published tying me to the exam scandal,” Surachate insists.
He says that, even though his name wasn’t directly mentioned, the reports clearly implied his involvement—damaging his honour and reputation.
The Exam Scandal Unfolds
The saga began in March, when cyber police swooped on members of the Betflik online gambling network.
During the raids, officers uncovered messages between officials discussing the removal of exam papers.
At the heart of the scandal is Kanittha Lertbanjerdwong—known as ‘Dr. Nid’—who claims to be Surachate’s personal secretary.
Investigators say she delivered stolen exam papers to Surachate’s legal team, who then filled them out and returned them to university officials.
Surachate maintains he never touched the documents himself.
Evidence Mounts and Arrests Made
Technology Crime Suppression Division 1 gathered enough evidence to secure arrest warrants for three suspects, including Ms. Kanittha.
She was taken into custody in April.
Police also seized the phone of Police Lieutenant Karit Pariyaket, a close aide to Surachate.
On it, they found Line chats detailing how the exam scam was organised.
Some messages mentioned Surachate by name, while three other officers were involved in preparing and returning the papers.
Investigators also traced financial transactions linked to the scandal.
Disciplinary Fallout and Career on the Line
Back in March, a police disciplinary panel dismissed Surachate over his alleged ties to an online gambling ring.
But the fresh accusations of exam fraud cast an even darker shadow.
Surachate insists he’s never been formally charged in the case, but his name keeps surfacing.
“I have to use the law to protect myself,” he says, defending his decision to sue.
Deep Divisions Exposed in Thai Police
This legal showdown between two of Thailand’s top police officers lays bare the deep rifts inside the force.
While Kittharath pushes ahead with the investigation, his former deputy fights back through the courts.
Experts warn that this public clash could further tarnish the image of Thailand’s police.
For ordinary Thais, it’s a rare glimpse into the fierce power struggles at the very top of law enforcement.
