Three of the 48 individuals who were detained during September 17 raids on a suspected scam operation have been placed in pre-trial detention at M1 correctional centre in Phnom Penh. South Korean nationals Sing Song Hun, 48, Song Eungyu, 21, and Park Yeongun, 26, have been charged by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court with aggravated fraud through an organised network, explained the investigating judge’s report, released to the public September 22. The trio were arrested in the capital’s Tuol Kork and Sen Sok districts, along with 45 other suspects including 30 South Korean countrymen, and Cambodians and Vietnamese. The three…
Author: Niem Chheng
Heng Ratana, director-general of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), has explained how Cambodia’s mine clearance efforts in Banteay Meanchey province’s Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages began in 1992. In a September 23 social media post, he noted that humanitarian demining supports safety, physical infrastructure development and socio-economic progress for the Cambodian citizens living in the two villages in Ou Beichoan, as well as other villages along the Cambodian-Thai border. He said the Royal Government of Cambodia has prioritised this issue since 1992-93, implementing the process in phases. Ratana clarified that from 1992 to 1998, the initial phase…
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and the UN in Cambodia co-hosted the Cambodia Responsible Investor event, convening to engage in a strategic dialogue on advancing responsible finance practices for Cambodia. The event was held in collaboration with CERISE+SPTF (a joint initiative of two leading global organisations dedicated to social and environmental performance management), the Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC), and the Cambodia Microfinance Association, bringing together over 60 investors from the banking and financial sector. According to a September 19 press release, the dialogue aimed to bringing together investors in the financial and banking sector to share their…
Banteay Meanchey provincial governor Oum Reatrey has written to Parinya Phothisat, governor of the bordering Thai province of Sa Kaeo, asking that Thailand maintain the original border situation, respect international law and halting any activities such as the laying of razor wire. In his September 18 letter, Reatrey urged the Thai side to adhere to the ceasefire agreement of July 28, the outcomes of the extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) meeting on August 7, the Regional Border Committee meeting results, and the special GBC meeting on September 10. He stated that the Thai side should not escalate disputes or disagreements…
Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for “urgent intervention” from the ASEAN chair, urging the bloc to ensure that Thailand does not continue installing razor wire barricades in Prey Chan village or other areas and to maintain the current ceasefire, leaving the issue to be resolved by the Joint Border Committee (JBC). He made the request during a phone call with 2025 ASEAN chair Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the afternoon of September 18, with both leaders discussed the concerning developments in Banteay Meanchey province’s Prey Chan village, in O’Chrov district’s O’Beichoan commune. “As the situation today continues to…
The joint forces of the capital’s Chamkarmon and ChbarAmpov districts, along with specialist officers from the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Commissariat, raided two locations in Phnom Penh which were suspected of operating online scams. Officers took 14 foreigners into custody. The September 17 raids took place at two sites. One in village 10, Tonle Bassac commune, Chamkarmon district, and the second in Veal Sbov village and commune, in Chbar Ampov district. According to authorities, 10 Chinese nationals and 4 Vietnamese nationals were detained, with evidence related to suspected online scam activities seized. “After a preliminary inspection of their electronic devices,…
Dara In, permanent representative of Cambodia to the UN in Geneva, delivered a statement on the arbitrary detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers who were captured by Thailand, during an interactive dialogue with the UN Human Rights Council working group. He demanded the immediate release of the soldiers. During the 60th session of the council, on September 17, Dara expressed Cambodia’s deep concerns over the continued detention of the soldiers, who were seized in uniform by Thailand shortly after the 28 July ceasefire came into effect. He cited Article 118 of the Third Geneva Conventions, which requires their release and repatriation…
Samsul Rizal Bin Musa, the Malaysian head of the ASEAN Interim Observer Team (IOT) to Thailand, has urged Thailand to remain calm and cease all provocative actions at Prey Chan village in Banteay Meanchey province. He called for Thai authorities to let the Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) do their job and resolve the case. The IOT visited the Ban Nong Ya Kaeo area, on the Thai side of Prey Chan, telling Thai media that he did not want to see the border area get any more tense. “I am very sorry. Whatever situation happens right here, must be contained here.…
Although just over 50 days have passed since fighting on the border came to an end with the July 28 ceasefire, Thailand has continued the provocative laying of razor wire barricades in Banteay Meanchey’s Prey Chan and Chouk Chey villages. Their goal appears to be to claim territory where Cambodian citizens have lived for decades. Dozens of Thai soldiers and police officers laid more barricades yesterday and today, September 16 and 17, in Prey Chan village, in O Chrov district’s O Beichoan commune commune This area was first fenced off by Thailand more than a month ago, with at least…
The Cambodian and Thai police have agreed to establish a joint task force to develop action plans to prevent and suppress cross-border crimes, including online scams and human trafficking. The Cambodian delegation to the September 16 meeting, held in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, was led by deputy national police chief Seang Tharith, while the hosts were led by senior inspector-general Thatchai Pitaneelaboot. The meeting ran from 10am to 8pm. “Both parties agreed to establish a task force to continue discussions on developing action plans related to preventing and suppressing cross-border crimes, including combating technology-based fraud and human trafficking,” said a…