A Bangkok-based company involved in Thailand’s national AI initiatives is
suspected of helping divert billions of dollars worth of Super Micro Computer
Inc. servers containing advanced Nvidia Corp. chips to China in violation of
U.S. export controls, according to people familiar with the matter. U.S.
prosecutors alleged in a March indictment that Super Micro’s co-founder worked
with a Southeast Asian company identified only as “Company-1” and various
brokers to route restricted AI semiconductors into China. The unidentified
company was said to be Bangkok-based OBON Corp., while some servers allegedly
ended up with Alibaba Group. Alibaba denied any involvement in smuggling
activities and said it has no business relationship with Super Micro, OBON or
the brokers mentioned in the indictment.
