A lawyer representing foreign businessman Benjamin Mauerberger, also known as Ben Smith, has filed a 100-million-baht defamation lawsuit against People’s Party (PP) MP Rangsiman Rome.
Thanadon Suwannarit, a legal adviser to the Agriculture Minister, Capt Thamanat Prompow, and also acting on behalf of Mr Mauerberger, filed the lawsuit.
The case stems from Mr Rangsiman’s speech in parliament on Sept 30, in which he alleged that Mr Mauerberger was linked to scam gangs and call-centre operations.
Mr Thanadon said the Criminal Court had accepted the case, with a hearing scheduled for Nov 24.
Responding to questions about the connection between Capt Thammanat and Mr Mauerberger, the lawyer explained the two knew each other via former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and that Mr Mauerberger had investments in Dubai.
Mr Mauerberger has conducted businesses in Thailand and Singapore, in real estate, yacht and aircraft trading, said Mr Thanadon. After Mr Rangsiman made the claims, Mr Mauerberger’s companies in Singapore were scrutinised, but no irregularities were found, he said.
Mr Thanadon said that Mr Mauerberger had previously been mistaken for another individual who faced prosecution by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2021, but stressed they were not the same person.
He said Mr Mauerberger’s role as an adviser to Cambodia’s former prime minister Hun Sen was purely consultative, with no salary or official position attached. The invitation was only for an investment discussion.
‘I only carry out my duty as assigned by Capt Thamanat. If Mr Mauerberger’s guilt is proven, I will definitely withdraw myself from the case,’ he said.
‘The lawsuit is not intended to intimidate or silence Mr Rangsiman, but to prove whether the information obtained from investigative journalist Tom Wright is true,’ he said.
Mr Thanadon said in this case, Mr Rangsiman would not receive legal amnesty for informing parliament of that information, because the information was not heard in a confidential session.
Meanwhile, Mr Rangsiman insisted Mr Mauerberger is the same individual who was prosecuted by the SEC based on facts raised in the meeting of the House Committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy and Reform.
He warned that Capt Thamanat may not understand his role in the cabinet.
He argued that rather than threatening with legal action, Capt Thamanat, in his role as deputy prime minister, should focus on cracking down on scam networks.