THAILAND – The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) formally cleared South African national Benjamin Mauerberger of any criminal record in Thailand after politicians accused him of links to a Cambodian call-centre fraud ring.
Allegations spark a political storm
The controversy began on September 30 when two opposition MPs from the People’s Party, Rangsiman Rome and Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, publicly alleged that Mauerberger — also known as Ben Smith — was involved in networks that ran telephone scams in Cambodia. The lawmakers further claimed he had close ties to former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Cambodia’s Senate president Hun Sen, and Deputy Prime Minister Thamanat Prompow.
Rangsiman cited a report by former Wall Street Journal journalist Tom Wright, alleging that Mauerberger had acted as an intermediary between Thaksin and Hun Sen and had attempted to acquire 31.35 million shares in Bangchak Corporation. The report, according to the MPs, suggested those shares were later transferred to Thaksin as part of a failed oil-exploration deal in the Gulf of Thailand that had helped fuel a cross-border diplomatic dispute.
DSI review finds no legal evidence
On October 9 the DSI issued an official statement saying investigators had found no evidence of criminal proceedings against Mauerberger in Thailand. “Mauerberger was never criminally prosecuted, and no complaints were assigned to or submitted to us for investigation of his conduct,” the document said.
The DSI finding meant Mauerberger was cleared of any wrongdoing under Thai law, though investigators did not comment on the broader political allegations or claims made about international business dealings.
Defence and legal action
Mauerberger denied the accusations and mounted a legal response. “My income comes from honest work,” he said, rejecting the claims of involvement in criminal enterprises.
He hired Thanadon Suwannarit — described in media reports as an adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Thamanat — as his lawyer and filed a defamation suit against Rangsiman seeking 100 million baht (roughly 2.5 million euros) in damages. As part of his defence, his legal team requested the DSI disclose any criminal-record information relating to him, prompting the agency’s subsequent clarification.
Case moves to courts as political debate continues
With the DSI statement on the record, the matter has moved into Thailand’s court system. The two MPs have continued to press the government to take a tougher line against organised call-centre fraud, calling on Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to step up enforcement.
The episode has highlighted tensions in Thai politics over allegations that mix national security concerns, cross-border disputes and high-profile personalities. While Mauerberger has been cleared by Thai investigators, the political repercussions and questions about alleged international business dealings remain under scrutiny as legal processes continue.
Observers say the case raises broader questions about how quickly political accusations should be aired in public and the mechanisms needed to separate unproven allegations from enforceable legal action.