Cambodia Arrests Provincial Deputy Police Chief in Online Scam Bust Involving Over 200 Foreigners

In Banteay Meanchey province, northwestern Cambodia, an operation to crack down on a large-scale online scam syndicate has led to the arrest of the provincial deputy police chief, Ou Sopha. As of the afternoon of September 22, 2022, he was being held at the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Police Headquarters for questioning. The arrest followed an operation where specialized authorities raided two buildings in the province, uncovering individuals suspected of involvement in online scams. The first building was a five-story structure with 172 rooms, and the second was a two-story building with 59 rooms. According to a report from the Secretariat of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group to Combat Online Scams, the operation resulted in the discovery of 174 Thai nationals (67 female), 10 Bangladeshi nationals (male), 8 Indonesian nationals (male), 3 Filipino nationals (female), 2 Chinese nationals (male), 2 Indian nationals (1 female), 1 Malaysian national (male), and 23 Cambodian nationals (15 female). Currently, the foreign nationals apprehended have been transferred to a center in Kandal province. Numerous items of evidence were seized and sent to the Provincial Police Headquarters for further legal proceedings. Authorities have also decided to temporarily close the two buildings until further notice. Sources from the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Police indicate that Deputy Police Chief Ou Sopha was summoned for questioning on September 21 and continued to be interrogated at the provincial headquarters on September 22, following legal procedures. Information Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local