Former Cambodian Foreign Ministry Official Loses Titles Over Illegal Visa Sales

Tho Samnang, a former high-ranking official at Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been stripped of his royal title of "Excellency" and all his positions, including his final role as advisor to the ministry, by royal decree for his alleged involvement in illicitly selling special visas and amassing millions of dollars. The royal decree, signed by King Norodom Sihamoni on August 27 but publicized on September 6, states, "The position of His Excellency Tho Samnang as advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, with the rank of Director-General, is terminated." The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) investigation found that Tho Samnang and his accomplices allegedly earned approximately US$3 million from selling C and CEX visa types to individuals involved in online scams and other crimes. According to the ACU, Tho Samnang confessed that while serving as Director-General of the General Department of Legal Affairs, Consular and Border, he had the authority to possess all types of visas. He admitted to illicitly issuing around 12,000 special C and CEX visas for sale to foreigners from September 2025 to the end of December 2025. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs discovered Tho Samnang and his accomplices' illegal activities during the annual review meeting in 2025. The General Department of Legal Affairs, Consular and Border noticed that the stock of C and CEX visas had gone missing. Following an internal meeting by the ministry's disciplinary council and leadership, Tho Samnang confessed to illegally issuing approximately 12,000 visas to two accomplices, bypassing proper procedures and principles. The ACU also revealed that in February 2026, Tho Samnang was found to be involved in technology-based fraud cases and had committed various offenses since 2021. In response to these wrongdoings, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the government to terminate his position and have him and his accomplices sign an agreement to cease such activities. On April 28, 2026, Tho Samnang was removed from his position as Director-General of the General Department of Legal Affairs, Consular and Border of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He was then appointed as an advisor to the ministry with the rank of Director-General, a role that completely stripped him of any authority over the General Department and, crucially, any right to handle visas. Despite losing his position and making commitments to the ministry's disciplinary council, ACU stated that Tho Samnang and his accomplices continued to violate regulations by illicitly selling visas to foreigners involved in technology-based criminal activities. Due to repeated offenses, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the ACU, interrogated Tho Samnang and his accomplices and handed them over to the court on August 23, 2026. The following day, August 24, the court charged Tho Samnang with intentional destruction and embezzlement, abuse of power, and money laundering. Accomplices Nob Radtha and Yos Raney were similarly charged with conspiracy in intentional destruction and embezzlement, abuse of power, and money laundering. The ACU further indicated that Tho Samnang, Nob Radtha, and Yos Raney face three additional criminal charges, for which the unit will seek indictments from the prosecutor and the court in the future. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local