PHNOM PENH (Xinhua): The Cambodian government has approved a draft law on combating online scams, which will deliver severe sentences to masterminds, a minister said.
The approval was made during a weekly Cabinet meeting, said Information Minister Neth Pheaktra.
"This law is the most important legal instrument for Cambodia in combating scams online, fighting money laundering, and demonstrating that Cambodia is not a paradise or a safe haven for criminals," he told Xinhua.
"Cambodia is not, and will never be, a safe haven for online scam criminals."
Pheaktra said this Bill will help prevent and eliminate online scams from Cambodian territory.
Under the draft, ringleaders of online scam centres will face between five and 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 1 billion riels (about US$250,000), or face between 10 and 20 years in jail and a fine of up to 2 billion riels (about US$500,000), if their operations are found to involve violence, torture, illegal confinement, human trafficking, or forced labour.
Online scam bosses will face between 15 and 30 years or life imprisonment if their operations lead to one or many deaths, the draft law said, adding that online scammers will be imprisoned between two and five years with a fine of up to 500 million riels (about US$125,000).
The draft Bill will need to be adopted by the National Assembly and finally reviewed by the Senate before being submitted to King Norodom Sihamoni for promulgation.
The Southeast Asian country has launched an unprecedented nationwide crackdown on cyber scam networks to maintain social security, safety, and public order, and to restore the kingdom's image on the international stage, with authorities vowing to eradicate online scam centres by April this year.
Interior Minister Sar Sokha said that Cambodia has deported more than 30,000 suspected foreign scammers, as over 210,000 others have voluntarily left the kingdom after operations against online scams have intensified since June last year. -- Xinhua
