Thai Deputy Finance Minister Resigns Over Cambodian Scam Allegations: "I Will Prove My Innocence"

"I Will Take Legal Action" Against Related Allegations

Bora Park Tanyawon, Deputy Minister of Finance of Thailand, who was suspected of involvement with a Cambodian fraud crime organization, has announced her intention to resign.

According to AFP and the Bangkok Post on the 23rd, Deputy Minister Park denied the allegations of her involvement the previous day, stating, "I have never been involved in any illegal activities, including online fraud." She claimed that the suspicions regarding her alleged ties to the Cambodian scam organization were "malicious accusations."

Bora Park, Deputy Minister of Finance of Thailand (right). Photo by Reuters

At a press conference, she said, "I will prove my innocence and take legal action against the dissemination of false information," adding, "Because legal proceedings will require time and may interfere with my role at the Ministry of Finance, I have decided to resign."

Previously, an investigative media outlet raised suspicions about Deputy Minister Park's involvement with a scam organization, reporting that her spouse had received cryptocurrency worth 3 million dollars (approximately 4.3 billion won). In addition, the Thai opposition and others alleged that Deputy Minister Park was among the Thai politicians linked to Prince Group, which has been sanctioned by the US and UK governments for being behind the Cambodian crime complex.

As the controversy grew, on the 21st, Prime Minister Anutin instructed Deputy Minister Park to submit a written response regarding the allegations of her involvement with the scam organization. Although Deputy Minister Park maintained her innocence, she expressed her intention to resign just one day after the Prime Minister's request. As a result, she became the first cabinet member to step down under Prime Minister Anutin's administration. She previously held senior positions at the Thai branches of global banks such as Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, and was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance in the cabinet led by Anutin Charnvirakul, which was launched in early September. However, she has now resigned after just over a month in office. Prime Minister Anutin was elected on September 5, following the dismissal of former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra by a Constitutional Court ruling.

Meanwhile, on the 22nd, former Prime Minister Paetongtarn announced her resignation as leader of the Pheu Thai Party as part of a comprehensive reform of the party. The Pheu Thai Party is led by the faction of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Paetongtarn, the youngest daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin, became the party leader and its candidate for prime minister, and was elected in August last year as the youngest prime minister in Thailand's history.