Another former Neak Oknha, an honorific title, has been arrested and sent to prison in Phnom Penh, for charged related to online scam and money laundering, having committed these offenses since at least 2019, say authorities.
Chhe Vivathanak, the Investigating Judge of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, on January 15, issued a warrant to detain the accused, Ly Kuong, 50 years old, in Phnom Penh as he awaits trial for his involvement in technology-based fraud.
The title Neak Oknha was bestowed on him by the King in June 2013. As of August 2025, he still held the title.
The public prosecutor has charged him with several offenses, including illegal recruitment for exploitation, aggravated fraud by an organised group and money laundering. These offenses were committed in Cambodia and other locations from 2019 until the present.
They are punishable under Articles 377 and 380 of the Criminal Code, as well as Article 38 of the Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism.
According to the Secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Technology Crimes (CCTC), authorities uncovered evidence indicating abnormal activities in exploiting others’ property through opaque investment or business schemes and then circulating those funds to deceive authorities and launder money.
In addition, the accused also used casino and hotel locations to unlawfully detain people to carry out online fraud from 2019 until the present.
“This case is currently undergoing further meticulous investigation to find other involved parties. They will be punished according to the law,” said the CCTC in a statement released today, January 16.
In May 2024, authorities and a joint task force raided a property owned by Kuong, in Phnom Penh’s Russey Keo district, on suspicion that people were illegally detained there. It is believed that hundreds of foreigners used the property to conduct online fraud. Authorities found items related to fraud, as well as drug paraphernalia, although no legal action was reported at the time.
Kuong is reportedly the owner of the Huang Le Casino complex in Preah Sihanouk province and the director-general of Casino Khnhom in Kampot province, which had also committed environmental offenses, discharging untreated drainage water into public water sources.
According to CCTC, since 2025, Cambodian courts have dealt with 37 major fraud cases involving 172 “masterminds” and accomplices. The authorities say they are continuing to investigate to identify the organised networks behind this technology-based fraud.
Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, told Reuters this week that Cambodia is committed to rooting out online fraud, with the arrest of Chen Zhi, founder of Prince Group, serving as testimony.
Concurrently, Prime Minister Hun Manet has also issued successive mechanisms to suppress and prevent technology-based fraud. A few days ago, the prime minister called for public participation in eliminating this crime and warned of legal measures against those who illegally harbour foreigners.
