BANGKOK, THAILAND – After arrest warrants from the Criminal Court, South African financial adviser Ben Smith refused to return to Thailand as investigators believed he was in the United Arab Emirates and Thai police weighed a possible Interpol alert amid questions over priority and political pressure.
Arrest warrants and defence stance
Prominent defence lawyer Witoon Kengngan told reporters on 3 March that his client Ben Smith would not travel back to Thailand and would instead remain abroad. The statement followed a week in which the case moved rapidly through the courts and police channels.
The trigger was a set of arrest warrants issued by the Criminal Court for Smith and his wife. These documents authorised police to detain the couple as soon as they set foot on Thai soil.
Multiple identities under scrutiny
Court files showed the wanted man under several names, including Benjamin Mauerberger and Benjamin Bauerberger. For investigators, the alternative identities were not treated as a mere technicality.
They were seen as a practical tool to ensure that search and enforcement measures were clearly linked to one individual. The authorities aimed to avoid gaps in cooperation or enforcement because of differing name records.
Couple believed to be in the UAE
Pol. Maj. Gen. Anek Taosupap of the Economic Crime Suppression Division confirmed on 5 March that Smith would be arrested if he returned to Thailand. The officer underlined that the warrant gave police the legal basis to act immediately at any point of entry.
Police also stated that Smith and his wife were currently in the United Arab Emirates. They did not specify the city or how long the couple had stayed there.
Interpol move considered but not confirmed
According to senior police and investigators, Interpol Red Notices were being examined as an option to alert foreign authorities to the suspect’s whereabouts. Such a move would aim to widen the reach of Thai efforts beyond bilateral contacts.
It remained unclear whether a Red Notice had already been formally requested. Officials said the competent units were first assessing legal and operational requirements before any step could be taken.
Economic crime units take the lead
The case was handled by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) under the umbrella of the Royal Thai Police. Operational work on the file lay with the Economic Crime Suppression Division.
This specialised unit focused on financial offences, and regularly took the lead in complex cases involving cross-border money flows, document checks and transaction analysis. Its remit covered cases where tracing assets and paper trails was as important as any physical evidence.
Lawyer raises political questions
Defence lawyer Witoon Kengngan criticised what he saw as the unusually rapid and highly visible progress of the proceedings. For him, this raised questions about a possible political dimension to the case.
He presented no concrete proof but hinted that the defence believed a dispute with a civil-law core was being elevated into a criminal matter with priority status. The suggestion added another layer of controversy without clarifying the underlying allegations.
Links to Thamanat and political responses
In the background stood Smith’s acquaintance with Deputy Prime Minister Thamanat Prompow, viewed as influential in Thai power circles. The personal connection drew attention because of the high profile of both men.
Thamanat stated this week that the accusations now being pursued predated his friendship with Smith. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stressed that the matter was solely a police affair and framed it as an issue for law enforcement rather than politics.
New evidence, but details sealed
Authorities justified the escalation with what they described as “additional evidence.” They did not disclose the precise accusations or the nature of the material involved.
What was clear was that judges approved the arrest warrants after reviewing the investigation files. Police continued to work on financial records, documents and potential further complainants and victims as the case developed.
Debate over transparency in high-profile cases
Commentary around the case suggested it could become a test of how transparently and cleanly Thailand handled economic crime proceedings involving internationally connected financial figures. The balance between investigative secrecy and public accountability emerged as a central issue.
Observers were left to weigh whether police should reveal more about the accusations to counter speculation over politics and priorities, or whether greater disclosure would endanger the investigation itself. The outcome of that debate could shape perceptions of Thailand’s handling of similar cases in the future.
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