Police raids six locations for evidence in Mauerberger fraud case

Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police have searched six locations in central Thailand in an effort to gather evidence supporting fraud and money laundering charges against international fixer Benjamin Mauerberger, also known as "Ben Smith," and his Thai wife. The Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for the couple.

The police have seized 13 items of evidence, including two desktop computers, two iPads, five cellphones, financial statements, two laptops, and six company seals, but have found no trace of the suspects.

According to the CIB, the couple is accused by their victims of tricking them into investing in several failed or fraudulent projects between 2016 and 2022.

These projects include real estate, energy, and a private jet, with combined losses estimated at around one billion baht.

Mauerberger, a South African national, is reportedly closely connected with several accused scam kingpins in Cambodia, including Yim Leak, Kok An, and Chen Zhi, the chairman of Prince Holding Group.

In October of last year, the US Department of Justice filed the largest-ever forfeiture action against Prince Holding Group’s US$15 billion in Bitcoin, which is currently held by US authorities.