The US Embassy in Phnom Penh Chargé d’Affaires Aleks Zittle told Justice Minister Koeut Rith that bringing online scam masterminds to justice is important, however, political analysts worry that US-Cambodia relations would be affected by trust issues if no appropriate action is taken.
Both parties discussed the implementation of the Law on Combating Online Scams and the importance of prosecuting the masterminds and those who help them.
According to a post on the embassy’s Facebook page on Thursday, Zittle and Rith also talked about the provision of technical assistance by the US to Cambodia to deal with threats from transnational criminal groups operating online scam centers in the country.
Separately, the ministry on its Facebook page said Rith also highlighted Cambodia’s commitment to cracking down on online scam.
Both parties pledge to strengthen cooperation between law enforcement officers from the two countries, as well as continue dialogue and information sharing to enhance the effectiveness of combating online scam, money laundering, and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The country has emerged as a regional hotspot for criminal syndicates running online scams, including fake romance and cryptocurrency investment schemes, often operating from fortified compounds and relying on forced or coerced labor.
International pressure has mounted on Phnom Penh to dismantle the industry, which reportedly swindles more than $12.5 billion annually from victims worldwide.
Ministry spokesperson Em Chan Makara said Cambodia welcomes US’ cooperation to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement officials, while ensuring the government’s effort and commitment to crack down on online scam.
However, he said, combating online scam faces challenges because it is a transnational crime, with criminals hiding abroad, using sophisticated digital technology to cover their tracks, as well as hacking payment systems or illegal financial flows across borders.
“However, to overcome this challenge, there is no other way but to strengthen closer international cooperation and accelerate the exchange of information between relevant countries in order to completely dismantle the criminal network structure,” he said.
In addition, the spokesperson highlighted that Cambodian judicial institutions have been strictly handling cases related to online scam after receiving complaints. They have also sent cases to court to make sure the offenders face the law.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak, and Chhay Sinarith, chairman of the secretariat of the Commission for Combating Online Scams, could not be reached for comment.
In early April, Sinarith said that authorities had shut down more than 250 online scam centers, including 92 casinos, and arrested about 800 ringleaders since July last year.
Meanwhile, political analyst Em Sovannara viewed that if the Cambodian government does not respond positively to the US statement, diplomatic relations between the two countries could be strained.
“In the present, we see that it is a good relationship, but if the situation gets too serious and without clear measures, I think the relationship might suffer,” he said.
The US has imposed sanctions on two Cambodian senators, Kok An and Ly Yong Phat. Prime Minister Hun Manet said on July 24 the two are fighting the allegations with the help of their lawyers.
