Deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, reported to the enquiry officer at Taopoon police station on Tuesday afternoon, to acknowledge the money laundering charges filed against him. He was granted bail after about four hours of questioning.

Pol Gen Surachate told reporters as he left the police station at about 8pm that he has denied all the charges and vows to fight the case in the court.

He insisted that he is still regarded as innocent until he is found guilty by the court.

The embattled senior police officer decided to surrender after the Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest yesterday, as he had ignored three summonses issued by the Taopoon police.

Gen Surachate said that he is not worried that the charges against him may undermine his candidacy for national police chief, when Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol retires at the end of September.

Responding to a reporter’s question about a speculation that he may be temporarily relieved from his duty by the prime minister, because of  the serious charges against him, Surachate said that it is not only him who is now facing criminal charges, Pol Gen Torsak is also facing criminal charges.

Both Surachate and Torsak have been transferred to the Prime Minister’s Office, pending the outcomes of criminal cases against them, allegedly in connection with an online gambling platform.