Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong, Deputy Police Spokesperson, released a clip asserting that the Region 8 investigative team did not abduct or extort witnesses in the gold bribery case. Although the witness was detained and interrogated for 13 hours, it was voluntary. There is no information that "Big Joke" has traveled abroad.
On 8 Jan 2026 at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters, Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong Piwpan, Deputy Police Spokesperson, gave an update on the gold bribery case involving over 10 million baht, with allegations linking Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakpal, former Deputy National Police Chief, and an NACC commissioner.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong stated that in today's briefing, he invited Pol. Col. Nitikorn Rawang, Superintendent of Investigation Division 2, Region 8 Police, who was involved in searching the residence of Mr. S., the personal security officer to the NACC commissioner and the recipient of gold from Pol. Col. Phakphum Pismay at the Southern Association. This occurred on 1 Sept 2024. He confirmed that the Royal Thai Police uphold fairness, transparency, and legal frameworks to verify facts and gather evidence leading to judicial procedures.
Before detailing further, the police team showed a video clip of the witness interrogation. The witness admitted going to the Southern Association, the location where the gold was delivered. He confirmed he was merely following orders.
However, previously, the witness reported to authorities that the investigative team had coerced and threatened him, potentially violating the Forced Disappearance Act, having been forced to give testimony and detained at Tha Chang Police Station for over 13 hours. The clip shown to the media lasts about 3 minutes, but Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong said the full clip is over 3 hours long.
After the clip, Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong affirmed that the interrogation atmosphere adhered to Royal Thai Police procedures. The search warrant was read as it corresponded to the case where the accused was summoned as a witness. The witness voluntarily went to the police station with officers. Although police offered to let him drive his own car, he claimed he could not drive. At the scene, a close female companion was present, so he was not alone. This confirms that the investigators did not coerce or intimidate the witness, as shown by their body language and words.
Regarding Mr. S.'s police report that officers came to search for drugs, the investigative team confirmed that reading the warrant is routine, and asking if drugs or firearms were present is standard procedure when reading a search warrant.
The interrogation of Mr. S. took place at the police station from 18:00 on 25 Dec 2025 until 07:00 on 26 Dec 2025. The interrogation room door could be opened at any time to allow the witness to meet with companions. The witness was not forced or pressured to be alone. Additionally, the Commander of Forensic Division 8 was present.
Regarding the information Mr. S. provided, he confirmed he was only following orders. Investigators believed his statements. After the interrogation, Mr. S. wrote a statement to confirm his sincerity. Then the investigators recorded the testimony and sent it to the Anti-Corruption Division.
Pol. Col. Nitikorn said that on the day of the search, two cars with seven officers traveled to summon the witness to the police station. Mr. S. appeared relaxed, occasionally joking, and no charges were filed against him.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong emphasized that police did not use any coercion to keep the witness for 13 hours. Mr. S.'s testimony confirms he was merely a bystander. He questioned whether Mr. S.'s complaint of coercion at Buppharam Police Station was motivated by hidden reasons, as the police chief there is a former police academy classmate of Pol. Gen. Surachate. The Deputy Police Spokesperson said he was unaware of any connection and suggested reporters ask the police chief directly. He also did not know if the chief was a classmate of the former Deputy Police Chief.
Currently, charges have been filed against two individuals in the gold bribery case: 1. Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakpal, Defendant No. 1, was formally charged on 26 Dec 2025 at the Anti-Corruption Division. He denied all charges. He faces accusations of jointly offering assets or other benefits to judicial officers, prosecutors, adjudicators, or investigators to induce improper acts or omissions under Penal Code Section 167, and offering assets or benefits to state officials to induce improper acts under the Anti-Corruption Act 2018 Section 176.
2. Mr. Sombat Thortham, Defendant No. 2, was also charged on 26 Dec 2025 at the Anti-Corruption Division. He denied all charges. The accusations mirror those against Defendant No. 1, involving offering assets or benefits to judicial officers or state officials to induce improper acts under the Penal Code and Anti-Corruption Act.
Regarding rumors that Pol. Gen. Surachate has already traveled abroad, he said he is unaware and has no information on this matter.