Thailand: former police chief accused of massive corruption scandal

The former Thai police chief, Torsak Sukvimol, is targeted by a corruption investigation involving more than 200 police officers.

The problems of corruption within the Thai police regularly make the front page of the national media, and many voices are raised to demand a thorough reform of a corrupt institution.

See: The series of scandals involving the Thai police calls for reform

A seven-month investigation conducted by the Police Complaints Review Committee found sufficient evidence to indict Torsak Sukvimol and over 200 of his colleagues.

They are accused of disciplinary offenses related to bribes involving online gambling networks.

The commission, which includes several retired police generals, is responsible for pursuing cases of professional misconduct based on evidence and documents collected from several agencies, as well as a detailed examination of financial records covering several years.

The case originated from a complaint filed in March 2024 by the famous lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd, who accused the then-police chief of being linked to corruption involving illegal online gambling syndicates.

See: Corruption in Thailand: evidence leads to the wife of the police chief

Sittra has since been placed in pre-trial detention for fraud and money laundering following his arrest last November.

A bitter dispute at the top of the Thai police

The former head of the National Police, Torsak Sukvimol and the former deputy head of the national police, Surachate Hakparn at a press conference in June 2024. Photo: Royal Thai Police.

Torsak, 61, held the position of Thai police chief for a year, from 2023 to 2024, but his tenure was marred by a fierce feud with his highest-ranking deputy, General Surachate Hakparn.

Surachate, known for effectively fighting corruption, did not hesitate to tackle high-ranking individuals, making him a danger to corrupt politicians and police officers.

He was the one who should have been appointed chief of police in place of Torsak, but internal maneuvers kept him out of the position.

The two top police officials at the time accused each other of profiting from online casino operators.

Surachate was quickly fired in June 2024 due to his « presumed ties » with these networks and it took 19 months for the police to release the conclusion of an investigation into Torsak based on evidence provided in March 2024.

According to some speculation, General Torsak allegedly targeted General Surachate and his team because they had pursued corrupt police officers in the case of the mafia leader nicknamed Kamnan Nok.

During this case, two police officers, one incorruptible and one corrupt, lost their lives while working under the direction of General Torsak.

See: A mafia boss had an incorruptible officer killed in front of 28 police officers in Thailand

According to Surachate's men, the corrupt policeman was allegedly 'suicided' because he was about to speak out, which put high-ranking officials in danger, and he was a close associate of Torsak.

Following this conflict, the then-Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, had transferred the two men to inactive positions within the Prime Minister's cabinet and had ordered an investigation.

The dispute ultimately led to Surachate's dismissal from the police force and Torsak's suspension until his mandatory retirement in September 2024.

See: Good news for all corrupt police officers in Thailand

In 2023, just days before the Police Commission appointed a new head of the National Police, Surachate's house in Bangkok was raided by cybercrime agents investigating money laundering and online gambling.

See: Attack against the "Mr. Clean" of the police in Thailand

Surachate had denied these allegations, claiming that they had been concocted by rivals within the police to block his path to the post of police chief.

Srettha Thavisin and the Police Commission then chose Torsak, the least senior of the four candidates for the deputy chief position, as the new police chief.

Surachate était le candidat le plus ancien qui aurait dû être nommé au poste, mais la perquisition de son domicile a permis de le mettre à l’écart.

Critics claimed that Torsak was not the best candidate for the position and that his appointment violated the rules and regulations in force.

According to a retired police officer, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, currently in prison, was allegedly involved in this case.

See: Police war in Thailand: the shadow of Thaksin Shinawatra?

Torsak's incredible rise in the Thai police

Police General Torsak Sukvimol.

Unlike most other senior police officers, Torsak is not a graduate of the Royal Police Cadet Academy.

He holds a degree in political science from Thammasat University and a master's degree in liberal arts from Sripatum University.

Among his older brothers is ACM Satitpong Sukvimol, private secretary to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Grand Chamberlain of the Royal Household Bureau and Director-General of the Crown Property Bureau.

Torsak was born on January 27, 1964 in Phetchaburi Province, the youngest of five children.

Torsak began his career at Caltex oil company, where he would have earned nearly 100,000 baht (2,675 euros) per month.

He resigned after seven years with the oil multinational to pursue his childhood dream: a career in the police force.

At the end of 1997, Torsak underwent officer training for non-graduates of the Royal Police Cadet Academy.

He joined the police force in February 1998, at the age of 33, as a deputy inspector in the Patrol and Special Operations Division.

Two years later, he was transferred to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), where he worked for 17 years.

He was promoted to the rank of inspector, then deputy commander of the CSD, supervising important tasks such as crowd control, special commando operations and security for members of the royal family.

In May 2016, he was promoted to the rank of commissioner with the rank of police colonel, then continued his rapid rise thanks to "accelerated promotions" that seemed to bypass the regulations of the Police Commission.

In March 2018, he was appointed deputy commander of the CSD.

In October of the same year, he became commander of the 904th Division of the Royal Police Guard, which is attached to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), although this position is reserved for candidates who have held the position of deputy commander for at least five years.

In 2019, he was appointed deputy commissioner of the CIB, then commissioner in October 2020, even though he was one of the least experienced candidates.

He was promoted to deputy chief of the national police in 2021, deputy chief in 2022, and then finally chief of police in 2023.

After being appointed CIB commissioner, Torsak said he had never expected to "go that far".

Three years later, he rose even higher in the ranks and reached the highest position in his profession, only 25 years after starting his career in the police.

See also:

Thailand: 9 police officers killed in air crashes due to corruption

Thailand: from executioner to victim, a corrupt police officer caught by his karma

Thailand: a gang of police officers arrested for extorting expatriates

Thailand appoints its new national police chief

Corruption in Thailand: many police officers are heavily indebted

Source: Thai PBS World