Former Thai deputy minister named in US scam probe request

Former Thai deputy finance minister Vorapak Tanyawong is among 26 individuals and two entities that two senior US House lawmakers have asked the US State and Treasury departments to investigate over possible links to Southeast Asian online scam networks.

In a 15 September letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast and House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar requested investigations into the named individuals and entities and a determination within 180 days on whether they meet US sanctions criteria.

The list includes Cambodian figures such as Hun To, Sar Sokha, Neth Savoeun, Dy Vichea and Yim Leak, as well as business figures including Benjamin Mauerberger and Zhong Baojia, also known as Wang Qiang.

The two entities named are Fully Light Group of Companies Ltd and White Sands Palace Casino.

The lawmakers said the names may be connected to scam operations involving cybercrime, human trafficking, forced labour, torture and other serious human rights abuses.

The letter does not impose sanctions. It asks the US departments to consider action under several authorities, including the Global Magnitsky Act.

Vorapak served as Thailand’s deputy finance minister under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul from September to October 2025. He resigned after allegations linking him to Cambodian scam networks, which he denied.