Thai Deputy Finance Minister Resigns Amidcyberscam Allegations

Thailand's Deputy Finance Minister Vorapak Tanyawong resigned amid allegations linking him to Cambodia-based cyberscam centers and transnational scam networks. Reports, including those from the "Whale Hunting" newsletter, claimed Vorapak's wife received $3 million in cryptocurrency from Chinese-Cambodian criminal groups that he was supposed to investigate, and that he had ties to a Cambodian bank implicated in money laundering. Vorapak denied any wrongdoing and stated he was stepping down to focus on his legal defense, also announcing plans to file defamation complaints against accusers. This resignation marks the first in Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's cabinet and highlights concerns over the growing scam industry in Southeast Asia and its infiltration into political circles. While corruption allegations are common in Thailand, connections between officials and the scam industry remain rare but increasingly scrutinized. The case underscores the challenges Thailand faces in addressing fraud operations that have expanded significantly in recent years.