Cambodia Refers 268 Cyber Fraud Cases to Court in One Year, Involving Nearly 3,000 Suspects

In a nationwide campaign to eradicate cyber fraud, Cambodian authorities have referred a total of 268 cyber fraud-related cases to the prosecutor's office over the past year, covering the period from July 2025 to June 30, 2026. According to a report on the "Results of the Nationwide Cyber Fraud Eradication Campaign for One Year," presented by HE Santebandith Chea Sinarith, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Combating Cyber Fraud (ICC-CF), to the plenary cabinet meeting on the morning of July 24, 2026, under the high chairmanship of HE Dr. Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, at the Peace Palace. HE Santebandith Chea Sinarith further stated that among the 268 cases referred to the courts, a total of 2,773 suspects were involved. Currently, 2,200 individuals (including 353 women) are detained awaiting legal procedures, among whom 313 are Cambodian nationals. According to the report by HE Santebandith Chea Sinarith, authorities have investigated and cracked down on 665 cyber fraud locations nationwide. Among these, 582 were identified as operational bases for committing fraud, and 83 were identified as hideouts for criminals to evade capture. Authorities have also sealed off 537 locations, preventing any further activity. Throughout the year-long cleanup operation, authorities investigated casino locations with licenses. Out of a total of 195 licensed casinos, 19 had their licenses revoked, and 30 had their licenses suspended in connection with cyber fraud activities. Twenty-three casinos had expired licenses and were not in operation. Concurrently, Cambodian authorities implemented procedures to deport 21,102 foreigners of 38 nationalities, including a majority from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Bangladesh. Within the framework of combating online scams, Cambodia has also cooperated with friendly countries, including the People's Republic of China, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, ASEAN member states, and several other countries, as well as international organizations such as the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation framework for law enforcement (IMLCC), INTERPOL, and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Simultaneously, we have opened our doors to national and international media to report directly from the online scam crackdown sites, aiming to reveal the truth to the world. This represents fruitful results stemming from the Cambodian government's high commitment to strengthening security and effectively preventing technological crimes. To prevent the recurrence of cyber fraud, Cambodia has adopted and announced the "Law on Combating Cyber Fraud," which came into effect on April 7, 2026. According to this new law, offenders face severe penalties, including potential life imprisonment and fines of up to 1 billion Riel, along with asset confiscation. According to the press release on the outcomes of the plenary cabinet meeting on July 24, 2026, HE Dr. Hun Manet, Prime Minister, emphasized that the operation to dismantle cyber fraud networks in Cambodia has achieved a significant step-by-step success. Nevertheless, HE Dr. Hun Manet reminded relevant authorities to continue the fight against cyber fraud without relenting. The Prime Minister considers the uprooting of these cyber fraud networks as a crucial step in "cleaning our house," which is an important part of strengthening Cambodia itself, particularly to further bolster the economy. Source: Koh Santepheap Khmer