Ex-police chief suspects plot in search of ‘Big Joke’s’ house

FORMER POLICE chief Pol. Gen. Sereepisuth Temeeyaves said this evening (Sep. 25) there are two parts to searching the house of Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, nicknamed Big Joke, with one being a straight-forward attempt to find links to online gambling but the other is to “kick and cut him off” at a time when the new police chief is being named, Thai Rath newspaper said.

He pointed out that attempts to unseat senior police officers had occurred before but this is the first time that the house of this senior police officer had been searched.

Pol. Gen. Sereepisuth, who now heads the one-MP Thai Liberal Party, mentioned that when Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha was prime minister; he had tried to appoint an officer of his choice as police chief but upon facing stiff opposition backed off.

He warned Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin that as he is an outsider he might not know that if he does not carefully appoint the new police chief he could be prosecuted.

He also questioned why Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate’s house was searched at this critical time. In searching a house police have to ask the court for a warrant and put forth enough charges against the owner whose name too has to be mentioned plus the timing of the search.

Should the search warrant had stated Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate’s name it is certain the court would not have allowed it, he said, adding he himself as police chief had been charged but the accusations were dismissed out of respect for him.

“We do not know the reason this person asked for a search warrant and what method he employed. I emphasise that in searching the house of a senior police officer you must have strong evidence,” he said.

Pol. Gen. Sereepisut also debunked the raiding police team’s explanation that they only found out upon arrival it was Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate’s house they were searching because if that was the case why did they bring commandos along.

He advised Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate that in such a situation he has to fight till his opponent is knocked out. He must check what laws they used to get a search warrant issued and collect evidence but being a senior police officer he is capable of doing that.

CAPTIONS:

Top and Front Page: Pol. Gen. Sereepisuth Temeeyaves.

Insert: Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate Hakparn. All photos: Thai Rath

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