PHNOM PENH: The General Secretariat of the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC) has suspended the gambling licences of four Preah Sihanouk casinos that have close links to the US- and UK-embargoed Jin Bei Group.
On Sunday (Nov 2), the National Police shuttered the four premises, shortly after the same measures were taken against a casino in Svay Rieng province.
The secretariat named the four casinos as the Jin Bei Group casino, operated by the Jin Bei Group Co, Ltd, the Jin Bei casino operated under licence of Cambodian Heng Sin Real Estate Co, Ltd; G.C. Casino operated under G.C. Media Co, Ltd; and Jin Bei 4 Casino operated under G.C. Media Co, Ltd.
The licences were suspended in an Oct 16 decision, with “suspicions of secretly committing online scams” as the reason given.
Foreign analysts and media outlets have linked Jin Bei casino operation to Minister of Interior Sar Sokha, suggesting that he is a shareholder. These allegations have been categorially denied.
A day prior, the CGMC, in coordination with The Cambodian Commission for Combating Technology Crimes (CCTC), suspended the licence of the Silver Star Casino in Bavet town, Svay Rieng province, following a raid on an online scam compound which was discovered on the premises.
The operation led to the apprehension of 23 foreign nationals, including two Taiwanese and one Malaysian national, who were described as the “ringleaders”. They will face charges, while the remaining suspects, six Sri Lankans, seven Pakistanis, two Filipinos, two Nepalese, an Indian, a Nigerian and an Algerian, were identified as victims.
“After obtaining sufficient evidence, the CGMC has suspended the license of Silver Star Casino, preventing it from continuing its business operations,” said the CCTC.
“Authorities sent the three alleged masterminds to the Svay Rieng Provincial Court to face legal proceedings and punishment, according to Cambodian law,” it added.
The 20 foreign nationals were transferred to the custody of the General Department of Immigration, which is arranging their deportation. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
