Cambodia Passes First Anti-Scam Law

Cambodia's parliament has passed its first law specifically targeting online scam centers, which have been accused of defrauding international victims of billions of dollars. Justice Minister Keut Rith stated that the law aims to enhance a 'cleaning operation' across the country and prevent the resurgence of these illicit businesses, which have negatively impacted Cambodia's economy, tourism, and investment. The new legislation imposes severe penalties, including prison sentences of two to ten years and fines up to $250,000 for those convicted of online scams, money laundering, data gathering, or recruiting scammers. This move follows widespread condemnation from human rights groups and sanctions from governments, including the United Kingdom, which recently sanctioned operators of a major fraud complex in Cambodia. The Cambodian government, which previously downplayed the issue, is now focusing on closing hundreds of sites and detaining senior figures, as evidenced by the recent extraditions of Li Xiong and Chen Zhi to China for money laundering and scam operations.