'Big Joke' lawyer asks PM for legal opinion on bribery case

Thairath•Politics•258d ago

Reader Briefing

Lawyer for high-ranking police official 'Big Joke' seeks Prime Minister's intervention to obtain a legal opinion on the jurisdiction of a gold smuggling bribery case.

•A lawyer representing Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn submitted a letter to the Prime Minister on January 30, 2026.
•The letter requests the Prime Minister to seek a legal opinion from the Council of State regarding the bribery case.
•The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) returned the case to the police, stating it was not their jurisdiction.

Overview

•On January 30, 2026, at 10:30 AM, a lawyer submitted a letter to the Prime Minister at the Government Complaints Center.
•Sanyapachara Samart, lawyer for Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, submitted a letter to the Prime Minister.
•The submission was made due to the NACC returning the gold smuggling bribery case to the police, stating it was not their jurisdiction.
•The lawyer requested the Prime Minister to seek a legal opinion from the Council of State regarding the case's jurisdiction.
•The lawyer emphasized that the issue is about legal interpretation and not political maneuvering or a delay tactic.
•The lawyer asserted that relevant laws, including the Organic Acts on Anti-Corruption and Criminal Procedure for Political Office Holders, clearly define jurisdiction.
•The lawyer plans to submit a similar request to the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police to ensure adherence to legal procedures.
•The lawyer stressed the importance of acting according to the law, not arbitrary decisions, to ensure accountability.

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Key Quotes

Sanyapachara Samart

"I am submitting this to have the Prime Minister request a legal opinion from the Council of State."

ตนมายื่นเพื่อให้นายกรัฐมนตรีขอความเห็นทางกฎหมายไปยังคณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา

Sanyapachara Samart

"This matter is not political and not a delay tactic; it is a legal issue."

เรื่องนี้ไม่ใช่เรื่องการเมืองและไม่ใช่การประวิงเวลา แต่เป็นเรื่องข้อกฎหมาย

Sanyapachara Samart

"The law clearly states that the police have no authority."

กฎหมายระบุชัดตำรวจไม่มีอำนาจ

Key Entities

Person

Big Joke(บิ๊กโจ๊ก)ℹ️

Nickname for Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, former Deputy Commander-General of the Royal Thai Police, whose bribery case is the subject of the legal dispute.

Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn(พล.ต.อ.สุรเชษฐ์ หักพาล)ℹ️

Former Deputy Commander-General of the Royal Thai Police, the subject of the gold smuggling bribery case.

Prime Minister(นายกฯ)

The head of the Thai government, to whom a request was made for legal intervention in the bribery case.

Sanyapachara Samart(สัญญาภัชระ สามารถ)

Lawyer representing Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, who submitted a letter to the Prime Minister regarding the bribery case.

Organization

Council of State(คณะกรรมการกฤษฎีกา)ℹ️

The legal advisory body of the Thai government, whose opinion is being sought regarding the jurisdiction of the bribery case.

NACC(ป.ป.ช.)ℹ️

National Anti-Corruption Commission, an independent organization that returned the gold smuggling bribery case to the police, citing lack of jurisdiction.

Place

Office of the Permanent Secretary for the Prime Minister's Office(สำนักงานปลัดสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี)

The location where the lawyer submitted the letter to the Prime Minister on January 30, 2026.

Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC)(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการข้าราชการพลเรือน (ก.พ.))ℹ️

The former building where the lawyer submitted the letter to the Prime Minister on January 30, 2026.

Law

Organic Act on Counter Corruption B.E. 2561 (2017)(พ.ร.บ.ประกอบรัฐธรรมนูญว่าด้วยการป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริต พ.ศ.2561)

A Thai law related to anti-corruption that is relevant to the jurisdiction of the bribery case.

Organic Act on Criminal Procedure for Political Office Holders B.E. 2560 (2016)(พ.ร.บ.ประกอบรัฐธรรมนูญว่าด้วยวิธีพิจารณาคดีอาญาของผู้ดำรงตำแหน่งทางการเมือง พ.ศ.2560)

A Thai law pertaining to criminal procedure for political office holders, relevant to the bribery case's jurisdictional determination.