'Scam-gate' deserves full accounting

The explosive revelations and allegations of regional cybercrimes and scam networks have hit Thailand head-on and placed the government of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in an awkward and defensive position.

- Thitinan Pongsudhirak

This file photo dated Oct 18 shows police officers escort South Korean deportees suspected of being involved in online scam operations in Cambodia, upon their arrival at Incheon International Airport in South Korea.

(REUTERS)

As more facts surrounding what looks like a labyrinthine cross-border multibillion-dollar transnational criminal ring come to light, more questions have surfaced with no clear answers. The Anutin government needs to come clean and avoid a "scam-gate" of cover-ups and lies at the expense of countless scammed victims across many countries.

Among the many questions and issues that have been raised, first and foremost is the role and possible involvement of senior government officials. That Deputy Finance Minister Vorapak Tanyawong has resigned in the wake of allegations linking him to BIC Bank in Cambodia, founded by controversial Cambodian businessman Yim Leak, only leads people to ask valid questions. What was the nature of Mr Vorapak's relationship with Yim Leak?

And then there is the question of governance standards and equality under the law. Srettha Thavisin, the prime minister in 2023-24, was ousted by the Constitutional Court for ethical misconduct for a minor cabinet reshuffle involving a junior minister who had been convicted and jailed for six months on bribery charges. Pichit Cheunban, the junior minister in question, resigned as soon as the controversy came to light, but prosecution still proceeded and led to Mr Srettha's removal on "morality and ethics" in Section 258 of the 2017 Constitution enacted during the military government.

Although Mr Vorapak has quit the government, should he still face misconduct investigations? If the same morality and ethics standards are applied to Mr Vorapak's case with equally vigorous prosecution of constitutional requirements, should Mr Anutin not come under similar scrutiny?