Thailand has issued an arrest warrant for Cambodian Senator Ly Yong Phat and four others, including Chinese nationals, for allegedly laundering money linked to online scams.
Thai media quoted Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau commissioner Surapol Prembut on Sunday as saying that the Criminal Court issued the arrest warrant last Thursday for Ly, 67, his close aide Chokchai Supapha 37, and three Chinese nationals.
Last month, Thailand revoked Ly’s Thai citizenship and froze more than $2 million in assets in an attempt to target Cambodian elites accused of scam operation.
Tycoon Ly, who is a senator from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, has long faced allegations of human rights abuses, including exploiting trafficking workers in online scam compounds.
He cut the line when contacted by a reporter on Monday, but has previously denied any involvement in scam operations or human trafficking networks. He told CamboJA News then that he “runs legal businesses” and that the Cambodian government would have prosecuted him if he were guilty of such crimes.
Political analyst Em Sovannara said as a political elite in Cambodia, Ly should issue a statement to clear his name and prove his innocence.
“We are an independent state and must protect our citizens if they are innocent and protect Khmer assets when stories are untrue,” he said.
Online scam crimes could negatively impact Cambodia’s reputation, international tourism and investment due to reports from neighboring countries, especially since Cambodia lacks independent media to communicate effectively with the international community, Sovannara said.
“Cambodia needs to strengthen cooperation with foreign countries that have raised concerns about online scams in order to address the issue and protect our national reputation,” he added.
The U.S sanctioned Ly last year, leading to apparent sanction-evasion efforts as companies tied to him and his family “vanished from public records”, according to a transnational crime expert.
Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering office has seized his Thai assets worth about $70 bath ($2.1 million), though details remain unclear.
The move against him is the latest targeting Cambodian elites linked to scam operations, amid renewed tensions between the neighbors that resulted in deadly border clashes in May and July.
In July, Thai authorities raided 19 properties in and around Bangkok linked to another Cambodian senator and businessman, Kok An, and issued an arrest warrant.
Government and Interior Ministry spokespersons Pen Bona and Touch Sokhak, respectively, did not respond to questions regarding the impact of Ly’s case on Cambodia.
