Three former Cambodian Foreign Ministry officials allegedly misappropriated 12,000 visa stickers and sold them to foreign workers at online scam compounds and casinos, according to Cambodia’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).
The allegations were detailed in an August 29th ACU statement reported by Cambodian news outlet Cambodianess. The agency said the scheme generated about $3 million, with each visa allegedly sold for between $300 and $6,000.
The investigation involves former ministry director-general Tho Samnang, former deputy bureau chief Nop Ratha and contract officer Yos Rane. The ACU said the courtesy visas and related extensions were issued without the required applications or supporting agreements. Nearly 200 foreign nationals were found with fraudulent visas in their passports.
The ACU said its financial tracing identified 375 bank accounts held by Tho Samnang across seven banks. It also secured court orders to freeze and confiscate $980,000 allegedly laundered by Tho Samnang and $250,000 allegedly laundered by Nop Ratha.
The three suspects face charges of intentional destruction and embezzlement, abuse of power and money laundering. The ACU said it was preparing three additional charges as its asset-tracing investigation continued.
The case comes amid Cambodia’s wider crackdown on online scam operations, some of which have been linked to casino properties and enclosed compounds.
