Korn revealed that the US did not wait for Thailand and applied legal sanctions against 28 names linked to scammers, including former Deputy Finance Minister Woraphak. He pointed out the damage to Thailand’s image, urged the Prime Minister to provide explanations, criticized the SEC for slow work, and disclosed that many more Thais are involved with scammers, vowing not to let go.
On 17 Sep 2026 at the Parliament, Korn Chatikavanij, a party-list MP from the Democrat Party and member of the Thai House Finance, Banking, Financial Institutions and Capital Market Committee, commented on the case where two chairpersons of the US House committees proposed that the US Secretary of State and Treasury sanction 28 individuals and organizations involved with a scammer network. Woraphak Thanyawong, former Deputy Finance Minister in Anutin’s government, is 19th on the US list. Korn said the Thai committee had urged responsible agencies for months—including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO)—to expedite action using all evidence to coordinate against the scammers’ money laundering network promptly, as this affects trust and confidence in Thailand’s capital market and law enforcement.
The scammers' activities over many years have not only harmed hundreds of thousands of Thai victims who lost assets but also affected global populations using this region as a base for scams in other countries. He himself is concerned and unwilling to wait for Thailand to act against those possibly involved.
"If they see us moving slowly, simply put, they will rely on their legal authority to act quickly because their citizens are not patient to wait for law enforcement like Thais, who often feel numb from slow processes. The US Congress representatives have reached the limit of their patience and have requested the US government to use legal powers such as the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to investigate. I confirm that the names listed do not prove guilt but are people suspected of needing in-depth investigation, possibly leading to economic sanctions against those individuals."
Asked about the impact on Thailand, Korn said if the US proceeds but Thailand has made no progress investigating those directly involved, it reflects inefficiency—not only failing to protect Thai interests but also failing to be a reliable partner for foreigners harmed by scams linked to Thailand. Asked further, he said the impact is mainly on the country’s image, as it seems the US must act instead of relying on Thailand, which has closer information and responsibility but appears unprepared. Speaking as a parliamentarian, he stressed this affects political confidence because those named are not ordinary people but were appointed by the current Prime Minister as Deputy Finance Minister. Lack of progress raises societal questions about political protection, prompting responsible agencies to expedite actions for clarity and fairness.
Asked if the government should act urgently, Korn said he had already debated in parliament and questioned Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aekniti Nitithanprapas, who oversees the SEC. He noted that the SEC chairman is under investigation and questioned possible links to the same illicit capital. Whatever the facts, it affects confidence in the SEC, which has been very slow, fueling public suspicion of political ties and why politicians do not expedite resolving the grey capital issue. Although public attention has waned after elections due to other matters, this issue remains unresolved. Korn has consistently said transnational grey capital uses Thailand’s capital market to launder money and cannot do so without Thai collaborators. Foreigners are increasingly aware of this, raising urgent questions Thailand must answer about the true facts.
Asked if Woraphak’s Facebook explanation and attempts to send documents to the US would ease the situation, Korn said it is Woraphak’s right to defend himself before US authorities. How the US responds is their decision, but Thailand must also perform its legal duties. He has followed and discussed with Thai agencies currently gathering information but questioned if the collection is taking too long and if all relevant parties have been asked. The US named Woraphak, who immediately stated he contacted them and tried to provide information. Korn asked whether the Thai SEC has contacted Woraphak and if Woraphak felt he needed to explain to the SEC himself.
As far as is known, Woraphak has never explained to the SEC. The Thai Finance Committee will consider cooperating with the US committee on this issue for mutual benefit because the US has authority over international fund transfers, which the Thai committee lacks.
Asked if other Thais are involved, Korn said it’s not just Woraphak; investigating financial transactions reveals links to others definitely involved. He did not confirm whether anyone in the current government is involved, as he sees it as irrelevant whether the individuals are from the current or any government or political party. Whoever aids scammers in defrauding Thai or foreign victims and laundering money through Thailand’s capital market will not be spared. He estimates the US committee is likely to expand investigations. The trend suggests they are prepared, and it remains to be seen how Senator Marco Rubio will proceed and whether he will activate legal investigative powers. Korn believes the chances are high, as this is a major issue for the US, whose citizens suffer greatly from scammers operating in this region, including Cambodia and Myanmar as noted in the letter. They must protect their citizens’ interests.
"This issue does not affect the Thai state but impacts the individuals named and the accusers, while indirectly affecting Thailand’s image by portraying it as a 'lame duck' in oversight, ultimately unreliable. The US must act because of delayed and unclear Thai efforts. Previously, our Finance Committee sent 20 questions to the SEC but received only one answer, with five sub-answers that were indirect; the SEC did not respond to over 10 other questions. I therefore urge all parties to perform their duties honestly and sincerely for Thailand’s public interest," Korn said.