Cambodia’s National Assembly has unanimously approved a draft law targeting telecom and online fraud aimed at stomping out illegal activity in the country.
The legislation was passed on March 30th during a plenary session chaired by Khuon Sudary, with all 112 lawmakers voting in favor, according to The Cambodia China Times.
The draft law had earlier been approved by the cabinet on March 13th and is set to become Cambodia’s first dedicated criminal law addressing telecom fraud. It is also seen as one of the first of its kind in the region. Authorities said the measure is designed to prevent the re-emergence of such activities and reinforce enforcement efforts.
Koeut Rith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, previousy indicated the legislation introduces strict penalties, including life imprisonment for the most serious offenses.
Organizing or operating telecom fraud centers is classified as a major crime, punishable by five to ten years in prison. Cases involving aggravating factors such as illegal detention, extortion, or murder may carry sentences of up to 30 years or life imprisonment.
The law also targets individuals involved in recruiting or training personnel for fraud operations, as well as property owners who lease premises to such groups. Authorities stated that landlords cannot avoid liability by claiming a lack of knowledge.
Chhay Sinarith, senior minister in charge of special missions and head of the Secretariat for the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS), previously indicated the legislation would provide a key legal foundation for Cambodia’s efforts to eliminate telecom fraud, describing it as the strictest criminal framework of its kind in the country.
Officials added that the law is intended to institutionalize anti-fraud efforts and address the growing cross-border nature of telecom scams.
