PM questions why previous governments dared not touch Cambodian scam kingpins in Thailand

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has hit back at the previous Pheu Thai-led government for its lack of courage in dealing with known Cambodian scam bosses, some of whom having taken refuge and established their scam networks in Thailand with impunity.

Thai police launched an extensive crackdown on Tuesday, raiding many locations across the country, believed to house scammers linked to Cambodian kingpins, Sok An and Yim Leak.

Also allegedly implicated in the money laundering operations of the scam syndicates is Benjamin Mauerberger, aka ‘Ben Smith’, who is reputed to have developed connections with several influential Thai politicians and Thai businessmen.

More than 10 billion baht in assets, ranging from an 800-million baht yacht, luxurious condominium units in Sathorn area and expensive brand name products to several supercars and over 5 billion in Bangchak shares, were impounded by the Anti-Money Laundering Office.

Anutin asked why no previous governments had dared to disclose the names of the scam bosses, despite them having been staying in Thailand for quite some time.

He also said that even though his government has been in office for just a few months, it has seized Bitcoin equipment and SIM boxes, worth about four million baht, and broken up some Bitcoin mines, which had been involved in massive electricity theft, estimated to have cost about two billion baht.

He said he has instructed the police and the electricity authority to investigate whether there are Thai people who abetted the Chinese scammers in the Bitcoin mining operations.

Anutin dismissed the swap of ministerial positions, from the interior to public health portfolios during the administration of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as being proof of his under-performance at the Interior Ministry. He claimed that, if he actually was incompetent, he would not have been moved to the public health ministry due to its size and importance.

Anutin did not assume the post because his Bhumjaithai party chose to quit the coalition government to join the opposition camp.

It was reported by some media outlets, however, that Anutin was removed from the interior portfolio because of his refusal to grant Thai citizenship to Mauerberger.