A former gardener for a National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) member, who is one of the suspects in the “Big Joke” case involving gold bribery, filed a complaint alleging he was forced by police to get into a vehicle and write dictated statements.
The case involves Police General Surachate Hakparn, known as “Big Joke,” former Deputy Commissioner of Police, accused of using gold bars as bribes to influence a case involving a NACC committee member.
Most recently, at 12:00 on 29 Dec 2025 GMT+7, lawyer Amorn Kusol accompanied Mr. Surasit Paekerd, 55, one of the accused in the case and whose home in Surat Thani was searched, to meet Police Lieutenant Thanawit Susuk, an investigator at Buppharam Police Station, to file a report as evidence after the house search and being taken to Tha Chang Police Station in Surat Thani, which may constitute forced disappearance under the law.
Mr. Amorn revealed that he brought Mr. Surasit to file a report as evidence because Mr. Surasit claimed he was unlawfully treated by a group of 7-8 police officers from Region 8's investigative unit. The incident occurred at 13:00 on 25 Dec when these officers arrived at Mr. Surasit's home in Tha Chang district, Surat Thani, while he was alone. They said there was a drug case and requested to search the house. After finishing the search around 16:00, no illegal items were found. Mr. Surasit thought the matter was over, but the officers then shouted at him to get into their vehicle. When he asked to call relatives, they refused and confiscated his phone. They took him to the third floor of Tha Chang Police Station and detained him before releasing him later.
The lawyer added that Mr. Surasit became fearful and fled to Bangkok, then contacted him for assistance.
Mr. Surasit said that after his house was searched and he was taken to Tha Chang Police Station, the police did not question him about the drug case as initially stated. Instead, they asked about other matters, such as whether he knew certain individuals or had seen specific bags or cars, which he did not understand. Later, the police brought A4 sheets—one with handwritten text by the officers and one blank—and forcibly ordered him to copy the text exactly under threats and shouting, warning that if he did not comply or made mistakes, he would not be allowed to go home and would be scolded until he rewrote it. He wrote the statements unwillingly and has not disclosed the content. He was detained overnight before being released. He requested investigation documents for evidence, but the police refused, and he still does not know whether he is being questioned as a witness or a suspect.
Mr. Surasit further stated that he personally never knew “Big Joke,” the former Deputy Commissioner of Police. He was formerly a gardener and security guard for Mr. Akwit Watcharawanlop, a NACC committee member, but has not worked or been in contact with Mr. Akwit for nearly two years.
Meanwhile, lawyer Amorn concluded that today's report filing was to record the facts before preparing to file a formal complaint against the Region 8 investigative police at Tha Chang Police Station. Mr. Surasit intends to take legal action against the entire police team involved. Whether this qualifies as a forced disappearance under the law will be considered further.