Thailand’s opposition has turned up the heat on Deputy Prime Minister Thamanat Prompow, demanding his removal amid fresh revelations about a sprawling transnational crime and money-laundering network. The call came from Rangsiman Rome, Deputy Leader of the People’s Party, after the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) moved to seize assets valued at roughly 10 billion baht tied to an online scam linked to businesswoman Tangthai Banmahing.
Rangsiman says investigators have traced the illicit cash trail to bank accounts held by a figure named Yim Leak, who is alleged to have deep ties to Cambodia’s political elite. According to the opposition, Yim Leak sits at the center of a regional scam operation that funnels dirty money across borders and into complex financial conduits.
One of the main arteries for those alleged flows is BIC Bank Cambodia. Rangsiman claims the bank is under Yim Leak’s control and points to its connections with the Dara Sakor project — a large development tied to Chinese national She Zhijiang, who was reportedly extradited to China over illegal gambling charges. The opposition even flagged the possibility that BIC Bank could be subject to British sanctions, underlining the international dimension of the case.
But the web gets more tangled. Rangsiman named Benjamin Mauerberger — also known as Ben Smith — as another link between the alleged network and Thai political circles, claiming Mauerberger has connections to senior Thai figures and currently serves as an advisor to former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen. Citing investigative reporting by Tom Wright, Rangsiman said Mauerberger has provided high-end perks — private jets and luxury yachts — to influential people, adding spice to the controversy.
One anecdote highlighted by Rangsiman involves a December 2024 meeting between ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Malaysia’s prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. The opposition claims that meeting took place aboard a yacht owned by Mauerberger, and that Thamanat was in attendance. If true, the image of high-stakes diplomacy unfolding on an ultra-luxe vessel will become a provocative footnote to what is otherwise a legal and political standoff.
Rangsiman also pointed to a public admission from Thanadol Suwannarit, an adviser to Thamanat, acknowledging he had handled legal matters for Mauerberger. That admission, Rangsiman said, is part of the “grey capital” problem — a phrase used to describe opaque, illicit funds that seep into legitimate political processes and erode democratic safeguards. He further alleged irregularities in court filings related to the case, including reports that Mauerberger’s lawyers could not properly verify a passport copy, and noted that Thanadol is currently being sued by Mauerberger.
Throughout his remarks, Rangsiman framed the issue as more than a single scandal: it is a systemic penetration of illicit money into politics, complete with lawyers, yachts, offshore accounts, and cross-border banking networks. He accused Thamanat of weaponizing legal complaints to stifle critics — a charge previously reported by the Bangkok Post — and urged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to remove the deputy prime minister to prevent any perceived interference with the ongoing probe.
Beyond the domestic political theater, Rangsiman pressed for stronger international cooperation to dismantle the alleged transnational fraud network. With assets reportedly moving through Cambodian banks and links to figures operating across Southeast Asia and China, the opposition says Thailand must work closely with partners abroad to follow the money and hold actors accountable.
The AMLO seizure of assets worth about 10 billion baht marks a significant escalation in the story. Whether that action will produce solid legal cases, international sanctions, or deeper political fallout remains to be seen, but the optics are already potent: a major money-laundering sweep, public accusations tying political figures to shady financiers, and a lawmaker demanding a cabinet reshuffle in the name of integrity.
For now, the battle lines are drawn. The People’s Party wants Thamanat out to ensure an unimpeded investigation; Thamanat and his camp have yet to publicly relinquish the post. Meanwhile, investigators will be watching bank ledgers, cross-border transfers and the paper trails behind luxury assets. If the “grey capital” theory holds true, it may not only produce courtroom drama but also force a broader conversation about how foreign money and influence navigates the corridors of Thai power.
As the story unfolds, the key questions remain: will prosecutors convert the AMLO’s seizure into convictions? Will international pressure touch financial institutions like BIC Bank? And will Thailand’s prime minister respond to the political urgency by reshuffling his cabinet? The coming weeks promise answers — and perhaps more revelations — in a saga that reads like a cross-border thriller wrapped in courtroom filings and political speeches.
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