Officer Torsak Sukwimon has been officially appointed new chief of the Thai National Policein the midst of the controversy surrounding the institution due to the complaints of alleged corruption against several of his senior officials, including the number two of the body, Surachate Hakparn, better known as ‘Big Joke’in charge of the case Daniel Sancho.

Torsak, 59, was elected on Wednesday during a meeting chaired by Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, but his appointment was made official this Saturday with the publication of King Vajiralongkorn’s order in the Royal Gazette. The now head of the highest police institution in the Asian country was the candidate with the shortest seniority among the four candidates and has been chosen for the position with one year left to retire.

His appointment has also been involved in various controversies throughout the week, since a few days before the meeting – which was even considered postponing – there were several incidents within the Police that were classified as “political conflicts”.

Last Monday, the authorities They registered various high-ranking properties police, including some homes of ‘Big Joke’, in charge of supervising the investigation of the murder of Edwin Arrietaa crime for which Sancho is in a Thai prison awaiting trial.

The search operation, framed in an investigation that links ‘Big Joke’ and other senior police officials to illegal online gambling funds, ended with the arrest of 17 people, including eight police officers working under the orders of the police chief, although the agents found no incriminating evidence against the deputy chief. Authorities are also investigating a alleged bribery of about 140 million baht (about 3.65 million euros) from an illegal gambling group, among other crimes.

‘Big Joke’, one of the favorites to become the new Chief of Police and one of the most media -and controversial- figures of the institution, has denied all accusations and attributed the search of his house to political persecution. Known for his high media profile, this senior police officer has been the visible face of the Police during the investigation of Sancho for the murder of Arrieta last August.

The Spaniard, son of actor Rodolfo Sancho and grandson of Sancho Gracia, was arrested on August 5, when confessed to the murder and dismemberment of the Colombian surgeon at the police station on the tourist island of Koh Phangan, in the south of the country, and was then transferred to neighboring Koh Samui.