Koh Kong Court Detains 115 Chinese Nationals for Online Scam Operations in Kirisakor District

Koh Kong Provincial Court has ordered the detention of 115 Chinese nationals following their arrest in a crackdown on a major online scam center in the Tarasakor area of Kirisakor District, Koh Kong Province. The operation, conducted on August 17, 2026, led to the apprehension of 115 Chinese and one Myanmar national, with numerous suspected fraudulent devices seized. According to a press release from the Koh Kong Provincial Court dated August 31, 114 of the accused face charges of online fraud under Article 5 of the Law on Combating Online Fraud. Two Chinese nationals identified as the alleged ringleaders have been charged with organizing or leading online scam centers, as stipulated in Article 6 of the same law. These two individuals had previously escaped from temporary detention but were recaptured during subsequent investigations. During the raid, authorities confiscated 197 monitors, 267 mobile phones, 17 CPUs, 18 laptops, 30 Wi-Fi devices, and various other equipment and materials from the operation site. Following legal procedures, including hearings and evidence examination, the investigating judge of the Koh Kong Provincial Court decided to detain the 115 defendants pending further legal proceedings. In connection with this case, three Koh Kong police officers and one interpreter have also been arrested on suspicion of facilitating the escape of the two alleged Chinese ringleaders. The crackdown and legal actions taken in this case demonstrate the authorities' intensified efforts to combat online scam networks and centers, which have become a transnational issue impacting social security. Source: CEN Cambodia