The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has removed Eakwit from overseeing the 'Big Joke' case and plans to return the case file concerning the 246 baht gold bribery to the police for further action, citing lack of authority to investigate when a NACC commissioner is the accused.
On 6 Jan 2026, Surapong Intarathaworn, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), acting Secretary-General, stated that following the Royal Thai Police's announcement about a case involving gold bars given to assist in a legal matter, with six accused persons, and the submission of the case file to the NACC on 5 Jan 2026, the meeting on 6 Jan decided that for official benefit, the accused NACC commissioner should be relieved from overseeing the Office of Government Anti-Corruption Investigation 1 (OGACI 1) and the Office of State Asset and Enterprise Examination 1 (OSAE 1), which handle the case. Pattharasak Wannasang, a NACC commissioner, was assigned to oversee the matter instead.
A reporter noted that regarding the police's submission of a case for NACC investigation involving Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, former Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, allegedly bribing Eakwit Watchawanakul, a NACC commissioner, with 246 baht of gold bars to assist a case in which Surachate is accused of benefiting from online gambling, the NACC meeting on 7 Jan will review whether to investigate the case themselves or return it to the police. The tendency is to return the case to the police because under the Anti-Corruption Act, the NACC lacks authority to investigate or prosecute when a commissioner is accused. Following the 7 Jan decision, the NACC will issue a statement explaining the meeting results.