The curious career of Surachate Hakparn, Thailand’s resurrected police star

21 Sept 02:39 Key points summarised by AI

Pol Lt-General Surachate Hakparn has made a surprising return to the Royal Thai Police as a special adviser on strategy (Level 9) after being removed from the force two years prior.
His career is marked by a meteoric rise through the ranks, becoming a major general before 45 and chief of the Immigration Bureau at 48, followed by a sudden transfer out in 2019.
His swift ascent and recent reinstatement are subjects of speculation, with some attributing his success to strong political connections, particularly with Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwon, and others to his diplomatic personality and achievements in high-profile cases.

Suchada: Meet the reluctant star of Thailand’s cryptic crypto drama

20 Oct 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Thai MP Suchada Zhang Thaensap faces intense scrutiny over her husband’s substantial 1.84 billion baht wealth, with opposition lawmakers alleging connections to international scam networks.
A significant portion of her husband, Taiyang Zhang's, declared assets includes a 1.44 billion baht loan to the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which still owes him 1.34 billion baht.
Opposition MP Rangsiman Rome accused Suchada's husband of links to online scam networks and gambling sites, prompting Suchada to vehemently deny the claims, demand evidence, and file a defamation complaint.
Taiyang Zhang's background includes co-founding Ren Protocol, later sold to Alameda Research (linked to the FTX collapse), and some of his former associates have been convicted in crypto company failures.
Suchada, a former actress and first-time MP, maintains her husband's innocence, while her party leaders have distanced themselves from the allegations, deeming it a private matter.