Court dismisses Surachet's defamation case against Jaroonkiat

Matichon•General•3h ago

Reader Briefing

The Criminal Court dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakpaan against Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat Pankiew due to insufficient evidence.

•The Criminal Court ruled on September 16 that the lawsuit lacked sufficient grounds to proceed.
•Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakpaan sued Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat Pankiew for defamation via advertising.
•The case stemmed from interviews given by Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat Pankiew on January 20 and 30, 2026.
•The lawsuit was officially filed with the Criminal Court on April 17, 2026.

Overview

•Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakpaan, former Deputy Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police, authorized lawyer Sanyaphatra Samart to sue Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat Pankiew.
•Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat Pankiew gave interviews via YouTube and television programs on January 20, 2026, and January 30, 2026.
•Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaroonkiat Pankiew alleged that Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakpaan slapped a subordinate with the rank of Police Lieutenant Colonel and caused psychological harm to subordinates.
•Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakpaan claimed that medical reports did not support the allegations and that the interviews damaged Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakpaan's reputation.
•Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakpaan filed the defamation lawsuit at the Criminal Court on April 17, 2026.
•On September 16, the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road issued an order after a preliminary examination.
•The Criminal Court determined that the case did not have sufficient grounds to be accepted for trial.

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Key Entities

Person

Surachet Hakpaan(สุรเชษฐ์ หักพาล)

Former Deputy Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police who filed a defamation lawsuit.

Jaroonkiat Pankiew(จรูญเกียรติ ปานแก้ว)

Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau and the defendant in the defamation case.

Sanyaphatra Samart(สัญญาภัชระ สามารถ)

Private lawyer authorized by Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakpaan to file the lawsuit.

Organization

Criminal Court(ศาลอาญา)

The court on Ratchadaphisek Road that presided over the preliminary examination of the case.

Law

Criminal Code Sections 91, 326, 328, 332(ประมวลกฎหมายอาญามาตรา 91, 326, 328, 332)

The legal sections cited in the defamation by advertising lawsuit.