Thai court orders seizure from Yim Leak, Ben Smith, Chen Zhi, and Kok An’s cases

2026-02-27 - 04:03

BANGKOK — 27 February 2026, The Civil Court has ordered the temporary seizure of assets worth about 13.074 billion baht linked to four major scam and public fraud cases, following a petition by public prosecutors, officials said. Witthaya Neetitham, assistant secretary-general and spokesman of the Anti-Money Laundering Office, said on 27 February that the agency’s Transaction Committee had resolved at its meeting No. 2/2026 on 11 February to refer the cases to prosecutors. The move followed a review of petitions seeking the revocation of temporary seizures and freezes of assets by interested parties. He said the committee found insufficient grounds to conclude that the seized and frozen assets were unrelated to criminal offences. On 17 February, AMLO Secretary-General Thepsu Bavorchotidara assigned officials to forward the case files to public prosecutors at the Office of the Attorney General’s Special Litigation Department to seek court orders for the assets to vest in the state. The four cases have a combined estimated value of 13.074 billion baht. Prosecutors subsequently filed petitions with the Civil Court requesting orders for the assets to fall to the state. After examining evidence during an inquiry, the court found reasonable grounds to believe the assets connected to the alleged offences could be transferred, sold or otherwise dissipated. The court therefore ordered the temporary seizure and freezing of the assets until further order under Section 55 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542 (1999), authorising the AMLO secretary-general to carry out the seizures or freezes, safeguard the assets and notify relevant parties. Details of the four cases are as follows: A case involving Tangthai, also known as Yim Leak, Wirinya, Ben Smith, Kattriya and others. The Civil Court registered it as Black Case No. F 31/2569. On 26 February 2026, the court issued an order to temporarily seize and freeze assets worth about 12.123 billion baht, in line with the asset list submitted by AMLO to prosecutors. A case involving Chen Zhi and associates, registered as Black Case No. F 25/2569. On 25 February 2026, the court ordered the temporary seizure and freezing of assets worth about 345 million baht. A case involving Kok An and associates, registered as Black Case No. F 29/2569. On 25 February 2026, the court ordered the temporary seizure and freezing of assets worth about 560 million baht. A case involving Uea-angkun and associates, registered as Black Case No. F 20/2569. On 24 February 2026, the court ordered the temporary seizure and freezing of assets worth about 46 million baht. If the seized or frozen assets in the four cases are unsuitable for storage or would place a burden on the authorities, such as cars or yachts, the AMLO secretary-general may order them to be auctioned, with the proceeds kept in lieu of the assets under Section 57 paragraph two of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. In the event that victims of the predicate offences are identified, AMLO will gather evidence in accordance with the law and refer the matter to prosecutors to petition the court to return or compensate victims from the seized money or assets instead of ordering them to vest in the state, the spokesman said.