On January 26, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson issued a clarification responding to media questions about legal proceedings and Chen Zhi’s expulsion to China, his country of origin. The ministry said Cambodia’s decision was based on law and its commitment to mutual legal assistance and judicial cooperation between the two countries.
The spokesperson said revocation of Chen’s Cambodian nationality strictly followed the Law on Amendments to the Nationality Law dated September 5, 2025, particularly new Article 29, paragraph 4, and the December 1, 2025 sub-decree implementing the Nationality Law, Article 52, paragraph 4. Under those provisions, the ministry said, nationality must be revoked from a naturalised person found to have obtained it through fraud or false information in the application process.
The ministry described expulsion as Cambodia’s sovereign decision following findings of irregularities in obtaining nationality and as demonstrating the government’s commitment to the rule of law. It called the process a standard legal procedure that should not be subjected to unfounded misinterpretation.
It also maintained that Cambodia’s checks and balances remained robust. Lawful transfers were a formal process of mutual legal assistance and judicial cooperation reflecting responsibility for domestic law and international obligations, it said. Such firm enforcement demonstrated commitment to international cooperation for peace, stability and socioeconomic development while effectively combating transnational crime.
The report said Prince Group founder and owner Chen Zhi, together with two other Chinese nationals, Xu Ji Liang and Shao Ji Hui, had been arrested and sent to China on January 6 following revocation of Cambodian nationality, at the request of competent Chinese authorities under cooperation against cross-border crime.
Chen, described as 39, had been charged in a US court with conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to launder money. The report said Hong Kong and Taiwan authorities had frozen more than US$500 million in assets in November of the previous year, linked to alleged large-scale criminal activity by Prince Group involving suspected international online scams and money laundering.
By: Nget Pisant
