Siem Reap’s Court of First Instance ordered the pretrial detention of three Nepalese men on January 10, 2026: GURUNG BINAYA, TUMROK SAIN and SAPKOTA MOHAN, over alleged aggravated fraud committed by an organised group. Cambodian investigators said the three suspects had posed as a loan company and used premises in Borey De Premier, Krous village, Svay Dangkum sangkat, Siem Reap city and province, to conduct technology-enabled scams targeting other countries from October 2025 through January 7, 2026.
The Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Online Scams said that, from 2025 through January 10, 2026, Cambodian courts had conducted judicial proceedings in 36 major cases with the aim of punishing 171 ringleaders and accomplices. Authorities were also continuing investigations to identify the organised networks behind online scams. The secretariat said Cambodian authorities had investigated deeply, identified scam ringleader targets and cooperated with law-enforcement authorities of the People’s Republic of China to transfer Chen Zhi for punishment in accordance with the law.
The secretariat said that each investigated case, from identifying suspects on the basis of clear investigation reports and concrete evidence through referral to court, demonstrated Cambodian authorities’ determination to enforce the laws and orders issued by the government within the nationwide campaign against online scams. Its report said that, from January 1 to 10, 2026, under its coordination and guidance, capital and provincial unified commands continued operations at seven locations: six in Phnom Penh and one in Siem Reap. The operations led to the detention of 39 foreign suspects—32 South Koreans, four Chinese and three Nepalese—and the seizure of evidence including four desktop computers, 62 laptops and 32 mobile phones.
The report added that, in the final six months of 2025, the national mechanism had tightened enforcement by local authorities, courts and prosecutors at every level and strengthened management of foreigners, particularly those entering Cambodia illegally, with the aim of ensuring that no unlawful activities, technology-enabled scams or forms of human or sex trafficking took place. At the same time, it continued cooperating with partner countries worldwide to research, investigate, suppress and prevent all forms of unlawful conduct. Reported results included operations at 118 locations across 18 capital and provincial jurisdictions, detention of 4,983 suspects of 23 nationalities, deportation of 4,039 foreigners staying illegally, and judicial proceedings in 35 major cases with the aim of punishing 168 ringleaders and accomplices.
By: Pai Sokhim
