Suthep Pongam

Suthep Pongam, popularly known as Thep Pongam, is a renowned Thai comedian, actor, film director, and screenwriter. He gained fame for portraying the leader of a bumbling gang of hitmen in the film "Killer Tattoo." As a prominent figure in Thailand's comedy scene, Thep once headed a comedy troupe that included fellow actor Petchtai Wongkamlao, who also starred alongside him in "Killer Tattoo."

His diverse acting resume features memorable roles such as a zombie slayer in "SARS Wars," an aging heavy metal rock star in "Rock Not Die," and a fraudulent doctor in "Dumber Heroes." Additionally, Thep lent his voice to the elderly mahout character in the 2006 Thai animated film "Khan Kluay."

However, Thep's life took a challenging turn on November 3, 2009, when the Supreme Court of Justice of Thailand upheld previous rulings from the Central Bankruptcy Court and the Central Appeal Court, declaring him bankrupt. This decision stemmed from his failure to repay a 3,000,000-baht debt for five townhouses he had acquired in Pattaya. The court noted that the value of his assets was insufficient to cover his debts, prompting the order for his property to be placed under absolute receivership. The court highlighted that, despite claiming a monthly income of 300,000 baht, Suthep did not substantiate his expenses, leading to the bankruptcy ruling.