'Your mouth is brave, but your legs will shake' says Thai deputy PM to Tom Wright

Whale Hunting co-founder Tom Wright has accused Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Thammanat Prompao of threatening to weaponize Interpol’s Red Notice system against journalists and lawmakers investigating his alleged ties to South African fugitive Benjamin Mauerberger.

In a report published by Whale Hunting, Wright described the move as “darkly comedic,” saying Thammanat appeared to be invoking the international fugitive alert mechanism “as if they’re parking tickets he can hand out to annoying journalists.” The threats, Wright said, followed reporting that linked Mauerberger to a $1.5 billion money laundering network tied to Cambodian scam centers.

Thai Deputy PM to journalist

Thammanat, meanwhile, denied any wrongdoing or close relationship with Mauerberger, insisting he had merely met the businessman at “charity and social events.” He warned critics not to “play games,” claiming he has filed more than 100 defamation cases and is preparing 270 more, seeking “billions of baht” in damages.

A war of words have erupted between the two personalities. Tom Wright insists he is basing his story on fact, with evidence, while the minister is saying he has no connections with the people mentioned by the American journalist.

“Don’t come playing games with me – your mouth is brave, but your legs will shake. I have filed over 100 defamation cases already, with 270 more being prepared in Phayao province. Anyone spreading these lies will face legal consequences.” – The Minister said.

Wright said Thammanat’s legal threats reflect a wider pattern of Thai elites using defamation laws to silence investigative journalism. “Every threat proves why this reporting matters,” Wright wrote. Read more on Wright’s website.

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