Panel targets gold bribe caseThe President of the Supreme Court has appointed a nine-member independent inquiry panel to investigate allegations of bribery with gold involving a commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). The move follows a petition submitted by Pol Col Phakphum Pismai, a former close aide to Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, a former deputy national police chief widely known as "Big Joke". Pol Col Phakphum lodged a formal complaint with the Senate Speaker, requesting that the matter be referred to the Supreme Court for legal proceedings against Ekawit Watchawalaku, an NACC commissioner. According to the complaint, Mr Ekawit is alleged to have accepted gold bars weighing 246 baht worth 10 million baht in exchange for assisting Pol Gen Surachate in a case related to an online gambling network that remains under investigation. Following formal notification from the president of the Senate indicating reasonable grounds for suspicion, the Supreme Court president appointed a nine-member panel comprising senior judicial figures, prosecutors and legal scholars.

Source: Bangkok Post February 28, 2026 06:09 UTC