The Thai police launched an investigation for alleged corruption against the deputy director of the force, Surachate ‘Big Joke’ Hakparn, in charge of supervising the investigations against the Spanish Daniel Sancho for the murder of the Colombian Edwin Arrieta.
A group of agents searched Hakparn’s residence in Bangkok to search for evidence related to the alleged bribery of some 140 million baht ($3.89 million or 3.65 million euros) from an illegal online gambling group, state media Thai PBS reported.
At the moment there is no arrest warrant for Hakparn, but there is for 30 of his subordinate police officers involved in the case of alleged bribery by a group led by Phongsiri ‘Bostal’ Tharawongsukformer president of Thai football club Lamphun Warriors.
‘Big Joke’ Hakparn, known for his media profile and one of the candidates for number one in the Police, has been the visible face of the force during the investigation of Daniel Sancho for the murder of Arrieta last August in the Phangan island.
The Spaniard, son of the actor Rodolfo Sancho and grandson of Sancho Gracia, was arrested on August 5, when he confessed to the murder and dismemberment of the Colombian at the police station on the tourist island of Phangan and was then transferred to the neighboring Samuiwhere he is in provisional prison.