BANGKOK — A South African businessman has appointed a Thai representative to file defamation charges against a prominent People’s Party MP after being accused in parliament of being a major scammer with ties to Cambodian and Thai politicians.
Thanadol Suwannarit, advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, posted on Facebook on Late Saturday inviting media to cover the case on Monday, October 6 at 10:30 a.m. at Criminal Court on Ratchada Road. He has been authorized by Benjamin Mauerberger, also known as Ben Smith, a South African businessman, to sue MP Rangsiman Rome of the People’s Party for criminal defamation and seek 100 million baht ($3 million) in civil damages.
Thanadol said evidence will be presented to the media during the press conference.
Rangsiman faces the lawsuit following his September 30 parliamentary speech, in which he cited information from Tom Wright, who claims to be co-founder of ProjectBrazen media. The allegations accused Ben Smith of involvement in scam operations and human trafficking in Cambodia, and showed allegedly suspicious photos with high-level Thai politicians, including Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
On October 2, Mauerberger issued a statement denying all allegations, calling them a “relentless smear campaign” by Wright. He announced legal action against Wright and accomplices, stating: “These are vile fabrications, entirely baseless and unsupported by evidence.”
Mauerberger accused Wright of publishing over 130 defamatory posts through Project Brazen and Whale Hunting platforms, calling it “calculated defamation, not legitimate journalism.”
He denied any involvement in Cambodian money laundering, call-center scams, or human trafficking. Regarding an earlier New Zealand case, he said authorities determined it “does not constitute a criminal offense.”
Meanwhile, Minister Thammanat also announced plans to sue Rangsiman for defamation, attacking the information presented as lacking any factual basis and intentionally damaging his reputation.
Rangsiman later told reporters he did not accuse Thammanat, but will invite him to provide information to the Committee on National Security, Thai Border Affairs, National Strategy and Country Reform, which he chairs, next week.
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