When a short, sharp clip of a traffic policeman asking for a 100-baht “parking fee” at Bangkok’s Morchit Bus Terminal exploded across social feeds, the timing couldn’t have been worse for the Royal Thai Police. The footage — shared widely alongside fresh allegations by former deputy commissioner Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn that more than 200 officers were tied to bribery, call-centre scams and online gambling rings — lit the tinderbox of public anger. But today the Metropolitan Police Bureau moved to calm the flare-up: the viral video is not new, it dates back to 2019, and the officer involved is already out of uniform.
Old footage, new outrage
The clip shows a traffic officer insisting a motorist hand over 100 baht to leave the Morchit terminal. The driver protests, saying he was told by the officer’s superior that parking there is free; the officer brushes that aside and insists the payment is simply “the way it’s always been done.” That combination — petty extortion and bureaucratic shrug — was enough fuel for social media at a time when trust in the force is already being questioned.
In response, the Metropolitan Police Bureau confirmed the video was from 2019 and identified the officer as Police Lieutenant Manat Piamnate. The bureau said Manat was removed from service after his misconduct came to light and has received disciplinary action. Commander Siam Boonsom also reportedly chaired a meeting to remind officers to carry out their duties lawfully and to serve the public fairly.
Big accusations, louder reactions
All this is unfolding in the wake of bold claims by Surachate Hakparn, better known by his nickname “Big Joke,” who publicly alleged that more than 200 police officers were involved in organised wrongdoing — from pocketing bribes to operating call-centre scams and online gambling rings. At one point during media interviews, Surachate went as far as to call the RTP the country’s largest criminal organisation. Whether you find his language incendiary or painfully honest, it has undeniably stoked a national conversation.
Across Thailand, police stations staged a very visible response: groups of officers assembled outside their stations to recite a new public oath in unison: “We serve the public as police, not as members of a criminal organisation.” Photos and short videos of these oath recitations circulated widely, part reassurance and part PR — a public performance meant to show accountability and unity in the face of sweeping allegations.
Why old videos resurface — and why context matters
It’s worth pausing on the dynamics that turn an old clip into a viral scandal. A short video, stripped of context and dropped into the middle of a bigger controversy, can read like proof of a pattern even when it’s a single incident. That’s not to say the public’s concerns are unfounded: incidents of corruption — big and small — have eroded trust over time. But viral content has its own momentum, and timing can amplify outrage regardless of whether the footage is recent.
At its best, social media serves as a check on power, exposing wrongdoing that might otherwise stay hidden. At its worst, it can conflate isolated incidents with systemic proof without offering the full story. The Metropolitan Police Bureau’s clarification that the clip was historical and the officer was already disciplined doesn’t erase the bad optics, but it does change the narrative from a sudden fresh scandal to a reminder of previously addressed misconduct.
What comes next?
The immediate fallout is twofold: officials must keep being transparent about past and present disciplinary actions, and the police institution must engage in sustained reform to rebuild public trust. A dismissed officer and a televised meeting are useful first steps, but they aren’t the finish line. Real change often requires independent oversight, consistent internal discipline, and a culture shift that protects whistleblowers and rewards integrity.
For citizens watching this unfold, there are practical steps: pay attention to official statements and verified reporting, support calls for transparency, and keep pressure on institutions to follow through on promises. Social media outrage can spark action — but sustained civic attention is what usually leads to institutional change.
In the meantime, the Morchit clip joins a long line of viral moments that have exposed both the imperfections of policing and the speed at which old footage can be repurposed into a new controversy. Whether the net effect is reform or mere spectacle will depend on what happens next in boardrooms, police stations and, most importantly, in public oversight.
One thing is clear: the oath recited by officers — “We serve the public as police, not as members of a criminal organisation” — is a phrase that sounds good on camera. Turning it into reality will take far more than a viral video and a disciplined lieutenant; it will take policy, persistence and public vigilance.
This video proves policing in Bangkok needs a massive cleanup, not just PR stunts. A dismissed officer from 2019 does not absolve the system of decades of petty graft that everyone knows about. We need independent oversight and public audits of police finances.
Independent oversight sounds great but who will police the police board without political interference? Thailand has deep patronage networks that protect bad actors.
Exactly, which is why reform has to include civilian watchdogs with real power and protection for whistleblowers. Otherwise the oath is just theater.
Civilian boards can be symbolic too if they are stacked or lack access to internal records. Real reform means legal changes and sustained civic pressure.
I saw one police officer take money once and it made me scared to report it. Kids feel like adults can do anything.
This is why I stopped trusting short clips online. People share them to get clicks without checking facts. The bureau said it was from 2019 and he was already removed.
Even if it was old, the clip fits a pattern many people experience daily. Saying it is old does not fix the underlying mistrust.
But context matters. Viral posts can mislead and start riots. We should ask for full reports, not just take screenshots at face value.
Surachate calling the RTP the largest criminal organisation is inflammatory but not baseless given the allegations. Someone had to say it bluntly to start a conversation.
Strong accusations can mobilize reform but they can also polarize and invite denialism. Evidence and due process must accompany bold rhetoric.
Bold rhetoric is often the only tool when institutions block transparency. It spurs media and public pressure which sometimes forces action.
I agree with Somchai, but we must be careful to push for verifiable investigations rather than only soundbites.
The oath looks like a school play. If they really served the public they would arrest their own for corruption more often. Pictures do not equal change.
Arresting officers is political suicide for some leaders, but it would be the clearest sign of commitment. Tough choices are needed.
We should consider structural incentives: low pay, lack of accountability, and informal revenue streams create corruption. Reforms must address root causes, not only punishments.
Comparative studies show pay increases alone do not stop graft unless paired with transparency and citizen oversight. Multifaceted approaches work best.
Teach civics in schools so the next generation understands rights and how to demand transparency. Kids need to know how to report misconduct safely.
Yes! If we learned how to report and that adults must follow rules, maybe things would be different in my town.
The resurfacing of old footage is part of a global pattern where social media creates moral panics. That does not mean the problems are unreal but it reshapes public attention.
Moral panics can be harnessed for good if channeled into sustained policy change. The danger is that outrage fades and nothing gets fixed.
Right, that is why watchdog groups and investigative journalists must keep up the pressure after the initial viral moment.
As a former officer I can tell you discipline happens but is slow. The public sees the slow pace as impunity, and that perception damages trust severely.
Slow due process is better than show trials, but transparency about progress would reduce suspicion. Publish timelines and outcomes of investigations.
People forget that some officers are honest and put their lives at risk. Blanket accusations demoralize the good ones and make recruitment harder.
Acknowledging good officers is not mutually exclusive with demanding accountability. We can support the honest while reforming the system.
International organizations could assist with reform design, but national sovereignty concerns and political pushback will complicate any external role.
True, but technical assistance on auditing and case management systems can be nonpolitical and very effective if welcomed by reformers.
And civil society needs to be empowered to use those tools rather than leaving everything to technocrats.
Why are people acting surprised? Everyone in my neighborhood pays small bribes to officers, bus attendants, and clerks. This is daily life, not news.
Normalization is the hardest thing to break. When so many small acts of corruption are accepted, systemic change becomes a cultural battle as much as a legal one.
Exactly, we need cultural change but I have no idea how to start besides refusing to pay once and risking harassment.
State power always resists oversight. If the RTP is as compromised as alleged, reformers need safe channels to document abuses and protect witnesses.
Protected channels are crucial. Anonymous hotlines with independent custody of evidence would be a start, but only if they are truly independent.
Whistleblower laws must be robust and enforced, not just words on paper. Otherwise people will stay silent.
The dismissal of one lieutenant is symbolic at best. The government needs to publish statistics on disciplinary actions to show whether this is an isolated cleanup or part of a trend.
Public statistics are useful but can be manipulated. Independent audits and third-party validation would make the numbers credible.
Media literacy matters. Many will share sensational clips without context, while those in power will spin whatever suits them. Citizens need better tools to verify content.
Schools and community centers can teach verification skills, but it requires resources and political will to implement widely.
I think social media is a two-edged sword. It reveals corruption but also spreads half-truths. The solution is balanced journalism and transparent institutions, not banning clips.
Balanced journalism is ideal, but economic pressures on media often incentivize sensationalism. Public funding for investigative journalism could help.
Why was a 2019 clip allowed to resurface as fresh evidence without simple context checks from platforms? Platforms need faster contextual labels for recycled content.
Platforms can add context but the real responsibility lies with both users and journalists to verify. Tech alone cannot solve social trust deficits.
True, but tech companies have resources and algorithms that can flag reposted content, so they should do more to prevent misinformation amplification.
From a law enforcement perspective, quick clarification helps calm the public, but the initial viral damage is already done by the time platforms act.
Public rituals like oath recitations are PR. If they are followed by measurable reforms, fine, but otherwise they serve to paper over systemic rot. Watch the next six months.
Agreed. Track whether internal records are opened to auditors, how many investigations lead to prosecutions, and whether whistleblowers are protected.
Why do adults always want to keep secrets? If cops take money they should go to jail. It is not fair to everyone else.
Kids are right to feel that way. Fairness should be the guiding principle, and laws must be applied equally to build that fairness.
As someone who has filed complaints, I can say the internal process was hostile and slow. Real reform means making complaint processes user-friendly and protected.
Thank you for speaking up, that kind of testimony matters. Authorities must audit complaint handling and penalize obstruction.