Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has ordered local authorities, police, and military police to step up a nationwide crackdown on telecom and online fraud, warning that officials suspected of protecting scam operations will face investigation and punishment, according to local Chinese-language media outlet The Cambodia China Times.
In an internal audio recording that circulated on social media on May 25th, Hun Manet said the government had received reliable intelligence that some provincial officials, district chiefs, village chiefs, police officers and military police personnel were suspected of tolerating or shielding cyber scam operations.
‘Please choose one: whether you want to remain in office, or whether you want to continue taking private benefits from scam gangs,’ Hun Manet said.
He said the groups were defrauding foreign victims and warned that officials who ignored the law and ethics for personal gain would be removed. The government is investigating suspected protective networks, and those found to be involved will face strict action.
Hun Manet also told local governments not to shift responsibility to the central government, saying each province must take responsibility for its own situation.
‘Do not pass the ball to the central government. If the central government takes action, I will have no choice,’ he said.
The prime minister also rejected concerns that a tougher crackdown would hurt Cambodia’s economy, saying the country had never relied on cyber scam activity. At a May 22nd cabinet meeting, he also said telecom fraud damaged public security, Cambodia’s national image and its international reputation.
Separately, Senate President and acting head of state Hun Sen said on May 24th that Cambodia must dismantle both scam networks and their protective structures. He warned that failure to act now could create a ‘major disaster’ and threaten national security.
