PHNOM PENH: Just days after the release of a damning Amnesty International report, Cambodian authorities have announced investigations into private security companies, serving military officers and any other individuals with links to the Long Bay development or other large-scale scam operations.
Chhay Sinarith (pic), senior minister in charge of special missions and head of the secretariat of the Ad Hoc Commission for Combating Technology-Based Scams (CCTC), noted on Nov 1 that authorities had previously focused their efforts on major ringleaders, allowing lower-level accomplices and those providing security at scam compounds to remain under the radar.
Following the report, however, authorities would expand their investigations to include private companies allegedly involved in the operations.
According to Amnesty International, five private security companies were allegedly involved in providing protection to criminal scam groups: Leap Somnang Security, Security Response, ZD Security, Dara Security Service (DAS) and Best (Cambodia) Security Service.
The report identified more than 20 serving military personnel who allegedly worked as security guards or managers at scam compounds.
“Following the recent report, we will conduct further investigations into private security companies to determine whether they were involved in illegal activities, including complicity in unlawful acts or torture,” said Sinarith.
Sinarith said authorities continued to uncover small-scale scam operations almost daily, despite the closure of 86 major compounds, which Amnesty International recognised.
He said Cambodia accepted the findings published by Amnesty International, describing them as evidence of the government’s commitment to combating the crimes. Authorities would take legal action against any companies or officials found to be involved, as identified in the report, he added.
He reported that 529 scam-related cases involving 5,778 individuals are currently before Cambodian courts. The suspects include citizens of China, Japan, India and Vietnam, among others.
Smaller operations are believed to be operating in Preah Sihanouk province, Phnom Penh and Poipet, he noted, warning that neither the operators nor property owners would be exempt from legal action.
However, he believed these smaller operations would not expand to the scale seen in previous years, as authorities continued enforcement measures and property owners faced potential legal consequences.
Responding to an Al Jazeera video report published in October showing a scam centre at the Long Bay development in Koh Kong province, Sinarith said authorities were pursuing alleged ringleader Deng Pibing, also known as Dung Ping, while investigating officials named in the media report. Long Bay remained under investigation, he noted.
Regarding casinos and resorts owned by senior officials and prominent businesspeople, including tycoons Kok An and Ly Yong Phat, Sinarith said authorities would determine whether those involved had directly participated in criminal activities or merely leased their properties to criminal groups. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
