Thai Prime Minister asks deputy to explain scam link allegation

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Thailands Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said if anyone in his cabinet was found linked to scam networks, the law will take care of them.

PHOTO: AFP

BANGKOK - Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he has asked Deputy Finance Minister Vorapak Tanyawong for a written response to allegations that he is linked to South-east Asian scam networks.

Mr Anutin also said Mr Vorapak had not been named to lead the country’s anti-scam committee, as Thailand and other nations widen efforts to stop online scams spreading across the region.

“There’s no such appointment,” Mr Anutin told reporters on Oct 21, responding to a question on whether Mr Vorapak had any role in the anti-scam committee.

“His name isn’t on the list – never was, never will be. I’m the chairman. Financial matters fall under (Finance Minister) Ekniti and investigations are led by the Justice Ministry.”

Mr Vorapak’s name was linked to the anti-scam committee after Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas told reporters earlier this month that Mr Vorapak would lead a task force to follow the money trail left by scam centres across South-east Asia.

Mr Vorapak has also denied allegations published in Project Brazen’s Whale Hunting newsletter, that said his wife was paid US$3 million (S$3.9 million) in cryptocurrency, citing corporate filings in Singapore.

Thailand faces a growing challenge in curbing the illegal, industrial-scale scam operations being run out of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

Many are located near those nations’ Thai and Chinese borders. Criminal gangs have been forcing trafficked victims to lure people on social