Phnom Penh: The report says the municipal unified command conducted operations at two separate suspected online-scam sites in Khan 7 Makara on May 9, 2026, detaining 58 foreigners, mainly Indonesians and Chinese nationals, and seizing technological equipment.
It says the operations were directly ordered by Phnom Penh Governor ឃួង ស្រេង and Lieutenant General ជួន ណារិន្ទ, deputy national police commissioner and Phnom Penh police chief, with cooperation from Khan 7 Makara authorities and relevant agencies.
The first site was the ប៊ីផ្លិស hotel on Street 113 in បឹងព្រលិត Sangkat, Khan 7 Makara. Procedures were coordinated by ភី ស៊ីថន, a deputy prosecutor attached to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. The report says 55 Indonesians, including nine women, were detained there; one had no passport and another 27 had overstayed their visas.
Items listed as seized at the first site were 280 mobile phones, eight laptops, 30 Indonesian passports and one Alphard vehicle.
According to the report, an initial examination of devices found photographs of women and material used for romantic conversations intended to lure victims. Authorities concluded that the site was suspected of conducting romance scams targeting people in Indonesia.
The second site was the BB Cake room in Building S3 of the អូឡាំព្យា centre, in វាលវង់ Sangkat, Khan 7 Makara. Specialist officers worked with district police, with procedures coordinated by សេង ហៀង, a deputy prosecutor attached to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
The report says three Chinese nationals were found at the second site, one without a passport. Items seized there were two all-in-one computers, one monitor and four mobile phones. Officers considered the group suspected of online fraud involving investment solicitations.
At the time of the report, the suspects and seized items had been referred to Phnom Penh police headquarters for further questioning, preparation of case files and referral to court under legal procedures.
The anti-online-scam law was promulgated by Royal Kram នស/រកម/០៤២៦/០០៦ dated April 6, 2026, with immediate effect under Article 24. Articles 5–9 cover fraud through technology systems, organising or directing scam centres, recruiting or training others to participate in scams, bad-faith collection of others’ identification or personal-information documents, and money laundering related to offences under this law. Penalties depend on the offence and statutory conditions. Under Article 6, organising or directing a scam centre is punishable by 15 to 30 years or life imprisonment if the conduct causes one or more deaths. The law also provides for fines and confiscation subject to its conditions.
By: សុខ ស៊ីណាន
Source: Secretariat of the special committee for combating online scams (លេខាធិការដ្ឋានគណៈកម្មការចំពោះកិច្ចប្រយុទ្ធប្រឆាំងការឆបោកតាមប្រព័ន្ធបច្ចេកវិទ្យា, គ.ប.ឆ.ប.)
