(Phnom Penh): On 1 November 2025, Lim Sokuntheara, Investigating Judge of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court ordered the temporary detention of seven accused individuals in connection with the import and supply of technological and communication equipment used to support online scam operations.
The seven accused are identified as follows
- Liang Xinghuo, male, Chinese national
- Han Zhi Chang, male, Chinese national
- Lu Lang, male, Chinese national
- Sok Sophak, male, Cambodian
- Khlot Sach, male, Cambodian
- Rum Kakada, male, Cambodian
- Cheav Srun Sopheat, male, Cambodian
They were charged by the prosecutor attached to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court with aggravated fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, illicit manipulation or alteration of data, and unlawful creation, installation, use, or modification of telecommunication infrastructure or equipment causing disruption, interference, or impact on public order.
They were also charged with the production, importation for business purposes, and sale of gambling devices without government authorization, and money laundering.
It should be noted that following the order from General Commissioner of the National Police Sar Thet, on 27 October 2025, General Yim Leang, Deputy General Commissioner of the National Police and also Head of the Specialized Operations Team, in coordination with Sith Vannak, Prosecutor attached to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, led a specialized police force to raid a location used for importing and supplying technological equipment and communication devices that served online scam operations. The site was located at House No. N42, Be Tong Road, Group 14, Village 78, Tonle Bassac Commune, Chamkar Mon District, Phnom Penh.
During the operation, police arrested three Chinese suspects (including one ringleader) and four Cambodian suspects. Authorities also confiscated a large quantity of technological and communication equipment used for online scam activities, including 2,323 mobile phones, 12 Starlink devices, 48 LCD monitors, 447 All-in-One computers, 147 CPU cases, 239 monitors, 343 multi-phone charging devices, 89 Wi-Fi routers, and 18,950 foreign SIM cards (from the US, Turkey, Thailand, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Mexico, Spain, Italy) and local SIM Cards (Seatel, Smart, Cellcard, Metfone).
Upon inspection, authorities found that most of the confiscated equipment was used to support online scam operations, while foreign SIM cards were primarily used to create fake social media accounts such as Telegram, Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat, and Zalo, as well as fake bank accounts, to defraud people in targeted countries.
In their confessions before the judicial police, the suspects admitted that upon receiving orders, they would prepare the equipment and deliver it to various provinces where online scam operations were based.
The police have compiled the case file and sent the suspects to the prosecutor at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for further legal action.
=FRESH NEWS
