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Some 30 housebuyers gathered at the Land Management Ministry to demand intervention in the zero construction of Borey Morn Dany housing project, saying years of delay had left them saddled with bank debts, rental and uncertainty over whether their homes will ever be built.
The buyers of housing project number 29 said they have been waiting for the villas which they bought in 2021, some of whom have already finished paying the loan, urging authorities to expedite a resolution to the long-running issue. To date, there has also been no progress on the construction of the homes.
In the meantime, land titles were issued to them by the ministry, but they only covered land ownership, as the land boundary has not been demarcated.
After spending nearly five years working as migrant labor in Japan and saving money to buy a home, Him Lina said hopes for a stable future were shattered after the money he invested in the Morn Dany project “vanished”.
Lina said he paid nearly $20,000 for a villa and expected a suitable home to start a family after returning from Japan, but nearly six years later, he has yet to have a house or see a meaningful resolution.
He gathered with the others at the ministry to seek a resolution because there has been no construction despite land titles being issued.
“I ask the ministry to push the company to compensate those of us who have fully paid or ensure that we receive the homes we were promised. It has been nearly six years, and we still do not have a home to live in,” Lina said.
“I consider this a scam. If it is not a scam, the company should have completed the construction or compensated us. I have a land title, but I do not even know where my plot is located. I cannot use that land as collateral for a bank loan,” he added.
Another buyer, Sok Vanna, voiced similar concerns. He said he purchased a townhouse worth more than $20,000 using a bank loan and money borrowed from relatives, but has yet to see his home.
After meeting with ministry representatives, Vanna said they were advised to continue waiting and submit some documents to request a meeting with the company to negotiate further.
However, asking residents to wait longer would impact their livelihood, cause financial losses and bank debts, and affect their mental health, he said. Many buyers are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their savings, which they worked hard for, to purchase their home.
“My family is facing financial difficulties. I still have bank debts, and my savings and investment in this housing project have depleted. I have nothing left. If the delay continues, it is going to be worse,” Vanna lamented, urging Prime Minister Hun Manet to intervene.
“As we live under the umbrella of peace, we believe only Samdech Thipadei can help deliver justice to us,” he said.
A Facebook post by the Land Management Ministry in June 2024 confirmed that people who bought houses in project number 29 of Borey KP Morn Dany in Kampong Speu province had received ownership certificates.
But, the Real Estate Business and Pawnshop Regulator (REBPR) under the jurisdiction of the Economy and Finance Ministry has not been able to resolve the issue and referred the matter to the land ministry, Lina said.
In 2024, the REBPR stated that Peace Village was granted the right by Morn Dany Company to build houses in this project. Landowners requested the two companies to build the houses for the customers after reaching an agreement with a clear plan so as not to affect the interests of thousands of families.
Buyers only possessing land titles on unclear property boundaries with no construction or resolution in sight are indicative of a lack of responsibility on the part of the company, Lina said.
“The contract states that construction would be completed within 24 months, but it has been five to six years. It has affected me mentally. I struggle to focus on anything and no longer have the motivation to work as hard as before.”
Similar problems have occurred in land investment projects such as Piphup Deimeas, Chea Saran, and Brilliant City, where hundreds of families have fallen into debt, and are facing psychological and economic pressure.
Recently, former tycoon Leng Channa and her associates admitted that they took nearly $100 million from “Boss 25”, an alleged fraud group, to buy land for investment.
In 2025, the owner of Morn Dany Real Estate, Morn Dany, was arrested and sent to Phnom Penh Municipal Court where she was charged for issuing a bad check of approximately $600,000.
Her Facebook page, KP Morn Dany, remains active and continues to share updates about the progress of their property.
In the the Ministry of Commerce’s business registry, an Em Malina is listed as a board director of Morn Dany Real Estate Co., Ltd. but when CamboJA News contacted the phone number listed there, a person who answered said he was the new owner of the number and had no connection with the company.
Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Ministry spokesperson Seng Lot did not respond to phone calls at the time of publication.
Adhoc senior investigator Yi Soksan expressed concerns as the company has failed to fulfill its obligations according to the contract with the buyer.
He said before granting a license to a company, the government should consider whether the former has adequate capital and a proper business plan to ensure buyers’ interests are protected. The situation of a company violating customer’s trust in the purchase of house or land or monetary investment is no different from online scams. The only difference is whether the scam was conducted directly and indirectly, he told CamboJA News.
“When granting a license, the government must consider whether the company has capital or has money deposited in a bank so that it has the ability to resolve problems when there is a risk. It could be due to corruption by the company that causes citizens to suffer,” Soksan said.
