PHNOM PENH: Cambodia is moving to strengthen the enforcement of its newly enacted anti-cyber scam law, with senior government officials reviewing legal measures aimed at eradicating online fraud networks and preventing large-scale scam operations from re-establishing themselves in the kingdom.
Minister of Justice Koeut Rith, together with Senior Minister in charge of Special Mission Chhay Sinarith, chaired a high-level June 16 meeting to review the implementation of the Law on Combating Technological Fraud and discuss ways to improve the effectiveness of prosecutions at courts and prosecutors’ offices nationwide.
According to a statement released after the meeting, “officials examined the progress made in enforcing the law since its promulgation, while also assessing challenges encountered in the investigation and prosecution of cyber scam cases”.
The meeting concluded with a series of measures intended to strengthen law enforcement and judicial procedures to ensure what the government described as the “successful elimination of cyber scam crimes from Cambodia” and to prevent large-scale criminal operations from returning.
The renewed push comes just months after Cambodia officially enacted the law, a landmark piece of legislation designed to tackle online scams and cyber-enabled crimes, which have become an increasing concern both domestically and internationally.
The law was approved by the National Assembly on March 30, before being reviewed and adopted by the Senate on April 3.
It was officially promulgated in April and has since become the principal legal framework governing the prevention, suppression and punishment of online scam activities.
Authorities have described the legislation as not only strengthening criminal penalties for cyber-enabled fraud, but also establishing legal mechanisms to improve investigations, prosecutions and cooperation among relevant institutions.
The justice ministry said the latest meeting focused particularly on strengthening the application of the law at courts and prosecutor offices, with the aim of ensuring that cases are handled effectively and consistently across the court system.
The government has repeatedly identified the fight against cyber scam networks as one of its priority policies under the seventh-mandate government led by Prime Minister Hun Manet.
In recent years, Cambodia has intensified efforts to dismantle online scam operations, which often involve transnational criminal networks using digital platforms and sophisticated technologies to defraud victims.
The government has carried out numerous crackdowns on suspected scam compounds and repeatedly pledged to prevent criminal organisations from using Cambodia as a base for illegal online activities.
Officials at the June 16 meeting emphasised that strengthening legal enforcement remains crucial not only for prosecuting offenders but also for safeguarding public security, maintaining social order and protecting the national economy.
The justice ministry said the measures discussed would help ensure the law is implemented effectively and contribute to the government’s broader objective of preventing cyber scam crimes from resurfacing in Cambodia. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
