How high do scammers go?

Also present in the images were several well-known figures, including Sarath Ratanavadi, CEO of Gulf Development Plc (GULF), General Apirat Kongsompong, and former Senator Upakit Pachariyangkun, well known for his own legal troubles.

In our previous post we mentioned the surprise photo from several years ago that has circulated ever so rapidly, showing now PM Anutin Charnvirakul with Benjamin Mauerberger or “Ben Smith,” shown by Whale Hunting to have extensive scammer links. The photo also showed several well-known figures, including those mentioned above and  former national police inspector-general Pol Gen Visanu Prasarttongosoth.

From Prachatai

Even more photos have emerged of Mauerberger and these powerful men, embracing, dining and embracing.

The Bangkok Post states that the photos were from a National Defence College class “study” trip to Singapore and that all of the men shown in the photos were a part of that class trip. The Post then questions the purpose of these vanity courses which in some cases lead to gangster networking (our term).

The response to these photos emerging has been swift and unconvincing.

Anutin, Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, and former army chief and former palace official Gen Apirat all initially took the Sgt Schultz path.

I know nothing

Anutin said he remembered the encounter, but insisted he had no personal relationship with Mauerberger. In a report at The Nation, he added: “Let’s put it this way — he is a friend of a friend of a friend…. So if you ask me whether I know him, I’ll say, ‘Yes, I do’.” In another report he is said to have “told reporters that he had personally met and talked with Ben Smith five or six times on unspecified, social occasions over the last decade but categorically denied that he had had business connections with the rogue dealer who has been put on the United States Department of Treasury’s list of transnational scammer suspects.”

As usual, the mainstream Thai media are acting like dunces (and self-protecting) when the powerful are involved. Just one line worth pursuing relates to Thaksin Shinawatra and Mauerberger. Thaksin knows and deals with Mauerberger – he’s bought a private jet through him and used his luxury yacht when dealing with the Malaysian prime minister.

But the line we think comes from this relationship is the deal done by Thaksin and the palace that allowed his return to Thailand. As we have understood it, Thaksin’s meetings in Langkawi included Sarath and Apirat. That link to a scammer and to palace insiders should be followed but we doubt it will.