Two US lawmakers ask to investigate former Thai deputy finance minister and Southeast Asian online scam networks

Two US lawmakers have requested the US Department of State and the Department of the Treasury to investigate former Thai Deputy Finance Minister Voraphat Tantayawong and 25 other individuals for alleged connections to online scam and money laundering networks in Southeast Asia. Voraphat resigned from his position in October 2025. This followed a report by Whale Hunting media alleging that Voraphat had assisted South African businessman Benjamin Moraberg's network in penetrating Thailand's financial sector, and that his wife had received cryptocurrency worth US$2.9 million. Voraphat denied these allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit against journalist Tom Wright of the news outlet. The list submitted by lawmakers Brian Mast and John Moolenaar includes Voraphat and Benjamin Moraberg, as well as Yeng Lik (a Cambodian businessman accused of acting as a political and financial intermediary for the network), Eugene Tan (a Singapore-based investment fund manager accused of facilitating the network's fund transfers), Tan Feiping (a Chinese national who owns Zhengheng Group, which is sanctioned by the US), and Hun To (a relative of Cambodia's ruling family and a director of Huione Pay). Huione Pay's parent company has been accused by the US of laundering billions of US dollars illegally. The two lawmakers have requested Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin to review and determine within 180 days whether the individuals on the list meet the criteria for potential sanctions.