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The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
Analyst: Cambodian actions aimed at protecting social order, Thai actions aimed at provocation
Foreigners suspected of being involved in online scam operations were detained in Kampong Speu province on July 16, 2025. - Photo: Information ministry PHNOM PENH: Since June 27, almost 1,500 suspects linked to online scam operations have been apprehended by Cambodian authorities. As the campaign continues, one prominent analyst described the crackdown as being aimed at protecting social order, even as Thailand's actions appear to be intended to exploit and antagonize Cambodia. According to the secretariat of the Committee to Combat Online Scams, as of Friday (July 18), nationwide operations targeting online scam activities had resulted in the arrest of 1,371 suspects in Phnom Penh, Kandal, Preah Sihanouk, Kampong Speu, Banteay Meanchey, Kratie, Stung Treng and Pursat provinces. The latest raid took place today, with nine Chinese suspects apprehended in Stung Treng province, according to the Ministry of Information. In the course of their operations, authorities seized computers, laptops, mobile phones, narcotics, weapons and ammunition as evidence. The secretariat reported that after the raids, the crime scenes were sealed off to prevent access. Criminal ringleaders have been sent to court for legal proceedings, while most of the foreign nationals involved are in the process of being deported. Several international organisations have accused both Cambodia and neighbouring Thailand being the base for high levels of online scam activities, with Thailand singling out Cambodia as a major target, even as border tensions rise. Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, noted that although the government launched its latest campaign earlier this week, it has been tackling these crimes for years, although recent efforts were conducted on a larger scale. 'I have observed that Cambodia has been cracking down on these crimes for more than five years, not as a reaction to Thailand's accusations. Cambodia continues these efforts for security, safety and social order,' he said. Recently, Thai authorities announced a case allegedly involving Cambodian businessman and senator Kok An, issuing arrest warrants for him and three of his children. Peou believed this action, targeting Cambodian citizens, appeared to be an attempt to provoke Cambodia. 'I don't know how Thailand operates, but it seems they target cases with political implications, like the one involving Kok An. Unlike Cambodia, which conducts regular crackdowns for societal stability, Thailand's actions seem aimed at provocation or political manoeuvring against Cambodia,' he said. 'Thus, the difference is that Thailand acts with political motives, while Cambodia does so consistently, for social stability,' added Peou. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
The Diplomat
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Thai Police Raid More Properties Linked to Cambodian Tycoon
Thai police have conducted further raids on properties linked to the Cambodian tycoon Kok An, as the fallout from the two nations' border dispute continues. According to a report in the Bangkok Post, Cyber Crime Police yesterday raided seven locations in Bangkok and Sa Kaeo province, which borders Cambodia, in their search for two daughters and a son of Kok An, whom Thai authorities accuse of involvement of online scam operations along the two nations' border. The raids came a day after the issuing of six arrest warrants, including for three of Kok An's children: two daughters who police identified as Juree Khlongkijjakol and Phu Chelin and a son named Kittisak. The Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into irregularities in the Thai national ID cards held by Kok An's children, and Police General Thatchai Pitaneelabutr said yesterday that 'any Thai citizens found collaborating would face maximum penalties as traitors.' Yesterday's raids came a week after Thai police issued an arrest warrant for Kok An, 71, on charges of money laundering and involvement in a transnational criminal organization. The Thai authorities accuse the tycoon of involvement in online scamming centers operating in buildings he owns in the Cambodian border town of Poipet, including casinos and 18- and 25-story buildings. On July 8, police searched 19 houses in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Chonburi, 'looking for evidence and to stop possible transfers of suspect assets,' the Bangkok Post reported. Police say that they seized assets valued at over 1.1 billion baht ($33.8 million) in the raids. Noting that Kok An had left Thailand, police said that they would ask Interpol to issue a Red Notice in an effort to expedite his capture. Kok An is a prominent tycoon and senator for the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) who has strong ties to the border town of Poipet, which has long been a hotbed of casinos and, in recent years, online scamming operations. The fact that the Thai authorities have been given free rein to investigate one of Cambodia's wealthiest and most politically connected figures is a clear result of how far relations have deteriorated in recent weeks. The downturn in relations stems from a border dispute, which has intensified since a clash between Thai and Cambodian troops along an undemarcated stretch of the border on May 28. Relations took a further dive in mid-June, when Cambodia leaked a recording of a phone call between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodia's influential former leader Hun Sen. The call was highly embarrassing to Paetongtarn. In the recording, the 38-year-old leader, the daughter of influential former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, appeared to kowtow to Hun Sen, whom she referred to as 'uncle.' Paetongtarn also criticized a prominent Thai military commander for inciting anti-government sentiment on the border issue and for being 'completely aligned' with her political opponents. The leak, which seems to have been orchestrated by Hun Sen, has destroyed the previously warm relationship between the Shinawatras and the Hun family and is likely to bring Paetongtarn's prime ministership to a premature end. In the fallout from the call, Paetongtarn announced a range of border restrictions intended to 'combat cyber scams' inside Cambodia, particularly in Poipet, including tighter restrictions on border crossings. Paetongtarn said Thailand would also consider blocking exports of goods that could facilitate scam operations in Cambodia and will coordinate with other countries and international agencies to clamp down on cybercrime. This has since spiraled out into rare mutual accusations of involvement in criminal activity. In a televised interview last week, Thaksin suggested that Hun Sen's decision to leak the phone call may have been a reaction to Thailand's crackdown on Cambodia-based scam operations, with the implication that Hun Sen was benefiting from them. Exiled Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy has said much the same thing, alleging that Thailand's crackdown is a 'growing threat to the illicit revenue streams that sustain [Hun Sen's] power – namely, criminal syndicates controlled by the Chinese mafia and operating along Cambodia's borders.' Hun Sen returned fire this week. 'I urge Thai politicians to stop blaming Cambodia without evidence, while turning a blind eye to their own country, which has become a haven for scam syndicates, drug traffickers, and money-laundering networks,' Hun Sen said in a post on his Facebook page. Despite Hun Sen's claim, there is considerable evidence that Cambodia has been and remains a hub of online scamming operations, including recent reports by Amnesty International and the Humanity Research Consultancy (HRC), in addition to a growing corpus of media reporting. Indeed, Kok An is just one of a list of Cambodian tycoons and officials that these reports allege are involved, indirectly or otherwise, in online fraud operations. Ly Yong Phat, another tycoon and CPP senator with a strong presence on the Thai border, has been sanctioned by the U.S. government for his involvement in online scamming operations. The Cambodian government has consistently denied any involvement in scamming operations, which it said it is taking steps to eradicate the operations. Today, Prime Minister Hun Manet issued a directive ordering every province to investigate and eliminate online fraud operations within its respective boundaries. The fact that Thailand's investigation into Kok An and the provenance of his considerable riches only followed a sharp deterioration in relations with Phnom Penh suggests that the Thai crackdown will only extend so far. Partly this is to do with the transnational nature of corruption in mainland Southeast Asia. Given his prominence in Poipet, and the extent of his Thai assets, Kok An clearly has close and influential friends inside Thailand. As Jacob Sims, the author of the recent HRC report, wrote in these pages yesterday, 'Thailand's own elites are enmeshed with Cambodia's, so this knife of accountability will likely only cut so deep.' It is also the case that such accusations may soon evolve into a negative-sum game. It is rare for the region's leaders to accuse each other of corruption, if only because so few of them can claim credibly to be free from such associations. The two sides may well soon come to realize that both stand to lose if they continue to exchange such accusations so publicly. It would therefore be no surprise if this ends up marking the low point of the current crisis.
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Bangkok Post
More raids as police seek to arrest Kok An's children
Cyber Crime Police with arrest warrants raided another seven locations in Bangkok and Sa Kaeo in their search for two daughters and a son of accused Cambodian scam-backer and casino owner Kok An. The Criminal Court approved search warrants for the seven premises, linked to the illegal network of Kok An, 71, who is accused of backing scam centres operating from buildings he owns in Poipet. It followed the approval of arrest warrants on Monday for Kok An's children - two daughters, identified as Juree Khlongkijjakol and Phu Chelin, and a son, Kittisak, Pol Gen Thatchai Peetaneelabut, the police spokesman, said. He is also head of The Action Taskforce for Information Technology Crime Suppression (TACTICS). Tuesday's raids were led by Pol Gen Thatchai, Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiewphan, commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), and Pol Maj Gen Tinkorn Rangmat, deputy commander of the CCIB. Two raided houses were in the eastern province of Sa Kaeo, neighbouring Cambodia. The first was in tambon Ban Mai Nong Sai in Aranyaprathet district, which belonged to a woman identified only as Amphon. Another was in Taphraya district, belonging to a woman, identified only as Wannida. Police said the two women were members of the management team of a 25-storey building in Poipet housing a scam operation led by Ms Juree. Two houses were searched in Bangkok. One, belonging to Ms Juree, was in soi 15 Chaloem Phrakiat Rama 9 road in Prawet district. Her elder brother, Kittisak, was listed on the house registration. The other, in the same area, belonged to Phu Chelin. (continues below) Police also seached two company premises in Bangkok - Breadcrumb Co Ltd, in G Zone FB of Seacon Square shopping mall in Prawet district, and CC Development TH Co Ltd in Bang Phlat district. Both belong to Ms Juree. They also searched room 4703 on the 47th floor of the Empire Tower in Sathon. The room was used by Ms Phu as an office. Police did not say if any people were present at these locations. Kok An's children are accused of involvement in transnational crime. Police said they are Cambodian nationals, but have Thai ID cards. The Department of Administration, under the Interior Ministry, views this with suspicion and has set up a panel to determine if any officials were wrongfully involved. Police on Monday said they had also identified more suspects, Thai and Cambodian nationals, also involved in the scam network. They included people who arranged mule accounts and used them to launder their ill-gotten gains.
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Police identify more suspects in Cambodian property owner's scam case
Police have identified more suspects in the scam centre case concerning Cambodian casino owner Kok An. Pol Maj Gen Siriwat Deepor, commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Division 1, said on Monday that the evidence that police were collecting had identified additional suspects, including people who arranged for mule accounts and laundered money in Thailand for transnational call scam gangs. Several suspects were already facing arrest warrants. The commander was referring to legal action in the case in which Cambodian property owner Kok An, 71, was accused of backing scam centres in Poipet. There were both Thai and Cambodian suspects, and police would seek arrest warrants with Interpol, Pol Maj Gen Siriwat said. He also said that police had information on the whereabouts of Kok An. He declined to elaborate. On July 7, the Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Kok An for supporting scam centres in Poipet. On the following day, police searched 19 houses in Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Chon Buri to collect evidence and impound assets believed to be involved in scam operations. Thai police suspected Kok An of supporting scam centres operating in four buildings he owned in Poipet.
Bangkok Post
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Senate joins anti-scam crusaders
The Senate is stepping up involvement in tackling online crimes, with Senator Nophadol In-na calling for a committee to focus on tackling widespread online crime and call centre scams. Sen Nophadol said he would raise a motion next Tuesday to set up the panel to boost parliamentary oversight of online crime. "Despite government action and enforcement of a new Cyber Crime Emergency Decree, scams remain rampant. Thailand is losing 100 million baht a day -- or more than 30 billion baht annually -- to such fraud," he said. The issue demanded not only stronger law enforcement but also political will. "Many operators near the border are Thai nationals, and neighbouring countries are using Thai telecom signals to harm Thai citizens," he said. "This has little to do with political stability. Key ministries are held by the main coalition party, and coordination should be smoother than under past multi-party governments," he said. "If the government succeeds, it will get the credit. If not, the responsibility lies with them." Online crime, particularly call centre scams, is often linked to illegal gambling and drug networks. The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau says losses from online crime between Jan 1 and June 18 totalled 12.77 billion baht, yet only 2% of stolen funds -- about 295 million baht -- were frozen, said the senator. The proposed committee would be one of four panels up for debate on July 15, following a meeting chaired by Senate Speaker Mongkol Surasajja on July 9. Other topics include economic sustainability, border security, and disaster response. Each committee would have 90 days to complete a study. Meanwhile, government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub said on Saturday authorities have intensified their campaign against border-based scam operations. Efforts include cutting power, internet and fuel to suspected scam hubs along the Thai-Myanmar border, leading to a noticeable decline in criminal activity. A similar crackdown is underway along the Thai-Cambodian border, he said. The government also worked on suppressing call centre scams along the Thai-Cambodian border. He said an arrest warrant against Kok An, suspected leader of a major Cambodian scam network, had been issued. Last week raids on 19 locations in Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Chon Buri believed to be linked to Kok An uncovered luxury cars and over 27 million baht in cash.
