The lawyer for 'Big Joke' submitted a letter to the Speaker of Parliament opposing the acceptance of the 246-baht gold bribery case file from the police, criticizing the investigation process by the police as flawed from the beginning and advising a thorough and careful review of the case file first.
At 10:30 a.m. on 26 January 2026, Mr. Sanyaphatchara Samart, a lawyer, for Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, former Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, submitted a letter to Mr. Mongkol Surasajja, President of the Senate and Speaker of Parliament, opposing the Speaker's acceptance of the investigation file from the police concerning Pol Gen Surachate and others accused of benefiting from online gambling websites, requesting the Speaker to forward the case to the Supreme Court President to appoint a panel for inquiry, stating that the police have no authority to consider the bribery case involving 246 baht of gold, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) cannot return the case file back to the police.
Since the NACC returned the case file to the police, the police cannot proceed because, according to the constitution, cases involving NACC members and others implicated as principals or accomplices in bribery must be reviewed starting with the Speaker of Parliament. The police have no authority to proceed with the case. It raises concern that the police's acceptance and investigation of the returned case file from the NACC may be an attempt to harass Pol Gen Surachate into criminal liability. Considering the memorandum from the Police Case Division, the NACC ruled that investigators lack authority to accept the accusation and can only receive it as evidence, advising the complainant to follow legal procedures.
Mr. Sanyaphatchara further stated, the investigators therefore lack authority to investigate Pol Gen Surachate’s case, rendering the investigation illegal. Evidence obtained from this unlawful investigation is inadmissible, especially since some investigators are conflicted parties themselves. The entire investigation process is thus unlawful. Before investigators forward the case file to the Speaker of Parliament or the acting Senate President, it must be determined whether the file is legally valid and carefully reviewed before submission to the Supreme Court President. As the saying goes, if the fruit from the tree is poisonous, then the fruit itself is poisonous. The Speaker of Parliament must thoroughly and carefully verify all facts and legal issues comprehensively; otherwise, the Speaker may inadvertently violate the constitution.
The reporter noted that after the press conference, Mr. Sanyaphatchara made a phone call to Pol Gen Surachate to arrange an interview with the media. Pol Gen Surachate briefly said in a clear voice, “I am fine now and have no concerns. If there are any questions regarding the case, please ask my lawyer.”