Cambodia is moving toward enacting what could become the region’s first dedicated telecom fraud law, with penalties of up to life imprisonment, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Koeut Rith.
The draft of the Anti-Telecom Fraud Law has already been approved by the Cabinet and submitted to the National Assembly’s legislative and judicial committee, as reported by local media outlet The Cambodia China Times.
Under Cambodia’s legislative process, Cabinet approval marks the first step. The bill will next proceed to formal parliamentary deliberation and voting, although no timeline has been disclosed.
Koeut Rith said the draft sets out stringent penalties aimed at preventing the resurgence of telecom fraud. Organizing or operating scam centers is a serious offense punishable by five to 10 years in prison, with sentences rising to as much as 30 years or life imprisonment in cases involving aggravating crimes such as illegal detention, extortion, or homicide.
The draft also targets individuals who recruit or train others for fraud activities, as well as property owners who lease premises to scam operations. Landlords will not be allowed to claim lack of knowledge to avoid liability.
Officials said the legislation identifies five categories of telecom fraud-related offenses and introduces fines of up to $500,000 for serious violations.
The Deputy PM noted that once enacted, the law would establish a systematic legal framework to combat telecom fraud and strengthen enforcement efforts following recent crackdowns.
Previously, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized that the government’s campaign against telecom fraud is ongoing and not symbolic, describing the issue as a regional and global challenge that has affected Cambodia’s international reputation.
The government has also set a deadline for the end of April to crack down on all telecom fraud operations nationwide.
