Bangkok: “Olar” supports the government in pursuing the financial interests of the “Ben Smith” network.
According to Thai News Agency, Olar backs the government’s efforts to seize and freeze tens of billions of baht linked to the network, stressing the importance of punishing all perpetrators involved, regardless of their scale.
Associate Professor Olan Thinbangtiew from Burapha University has called for a comprehensive investigation into the Ben Smith network’s financial activities and its connections to the grey business sector. He believes financial investigations are more crucial than political ones, especially those based on photographs.
Assoc. Prof. Olar highlighted society’s current interest in old photographs of individuals allegedly linked to gray capital and scammers with Thai politicians. He warned against drawing conclusions from these images, advocating for fair treatment of those pictured and a focus on tracing money trails instead.
He stated that the significance lies in tracking the flow of gray money, rather than interpreting photographs, which might only capture social interactions or coincidences. Olar asserts that uncovering the money trails will help cleanse Thailand of these issues.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Olar urged the public to question the destination of funds from the grey business sector and identify the beneficiaries. He expressed his support for investigative agencies, citing the long-standing harm caused by the Tooltown scammer gang to Thai citizens, and emphasized the need to end this threat.
He reiterated that financial trails are revealing, regardless of scammers’ efforts to hide. The recent asset seizure by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) demonstrates state successes, but Olar called for increased efforts to ensure all perpetrators face consequences.
“This asset seizure, amounting to tens of billions of baht, is linked to multiple networks,” he noted. “The public is eager to uncover the masterminds. It’s time for decisive action, providing an opportunity for the government to showcase its full capabilities,” concluded Assoc. Prof. Olar.