- Photos showing Prime Minister Anutin Chanwirakul and Finance Minister Eknit Nitithanpraphas with online fraudster Ben Smith have rocked Bangkok's political scene. The photos have sparked immediate demands from the Thai People's Party and the Democrat Party.
- Democrat Party leader and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has called for a swift and direct investigation into links between senior officials and a network of online fraudsters linked to online fraudsters. The photos emerged just 24 hours after the Anti-Money Laundering Bureau seized 9.279 billion baht in assets linked to Ben Smith.
- Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has increased pressure on the government of Prime Minister Anutin Chanwirakul as a scandal that has spread has pushed the issue into the political arena. Abhisit spoke after recent polls showed his support growing. He said the government must explain its links to online fraud networks. He demanded an investigation into the alleged links between senior Thai officials and online fraud gangs. His remarks came amid intense scrutiny.
- The controversy has intensified after a photo surfaced online. It appears to show Prime Minister Anutin Chanwirakul and Finance Minister Eknit Nitithanpraphas having a conversation with Ben Smith.
- Ben Smith is linked to 9.279 billion baht in assets seized on Monday by the Anti-Money Laundering Bureau. The photo was widely shared. And all these images prove that a senior Thai official is close to an online fraud ring involved in major money laundering operations around the world.
- The scandal erupted when photos emerged of Thailand's top prime ministers with online fraudster Ben Smith. Meanwhile, Thai security police traced the seized assets to the alleged fraud.
- They were also told to transfer money for "verification". Many complied and many more lost large sums of money. The scam has devastated victims across Thailand.
- The situation has now escalated into a political scandal that threatens the stability of the Thai government and the position of Prime Minister Anutin Chanvirakul. Pressure has mounted as the Thai People's Party demands the removal of Deputy Prime Minister Dhammanath Prompav, who is also the Minister of Agriculture. He is currently in Hat Yai to oversee flood relief efforts in Thailand. However, he has been linked to Ben Smith in a Thai security police investigation report, and members of the Tiger Party have also been linked to the case.
- It is also alleged that Education Minister Narumon Pinyoshinwat, a leader of the Tiger Party, also has indirect personal ties to Ben Smith. This relationship is believed to be Ben Smith's connection to someone close to Thailand's ministers and cabinet. This has led to increased scrutiny by the Thai security police on political networks over online scams and financial corruption.
- On December 3, 2025, the owner of a Facebook page called "Chana Phasuksakul's" posted a photo of Prime Minister Anutin Chanwirakul and Finance Minister Eknit Nitithanpraphas.
- They are seen posing with Ben Smith. The photo emerged after the Anti-Money Laundering Office froze and seized more than 9 billion baht linked to Ben Smith. The post summarised the Anti-Money Laundering Office's actions in four major cases. The agency seized assets worth a total of 10.165 billion baht, with the largest portion coming from Ben Smith's network.
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