AKP Phnom Penh, January 16, 2026 -- 

Phnom Penh Municipal Court has ordered the pre-trial detention of a man accused of involvement in large-scale technology-enabled fraud, court officials said on Thursday.

Investigating judge Chhe Vivathanak of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Jan. 15 ordered the detention of the suspect, identified as Ly Kuong, 50, at Phnom Penh’s PJ prison pending trial, after finding sufficient grounds linking him to online fraud activities.

According to the detention order, prosecutors charged Ly Kuong with multiple offences, including illegal recruitment for exploitation, aggravated fraud committed by an organised group, and money laundering. The alleged crimes were committed in Cambodia and other locations from 2019 to the present.

The charges fall under Articles 377 and 380 of the Cambodian Criminal Code, as well as Article 38 of the Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism.

Authorities said the detention followed an extensive investigation that uncovered evidence of fraudulent schemes involving the misappropriation of victims’ assets under the guise of investment or business opportunities lacking transparency. 

Investigators said the proceeds were circulated to conceal their origins and laundered through various channels.

Law enforcement officials also alleged that casinos and hotels were used as sites to detain individuals and force them to conduct online scams, a practice that has persisted since 2019.

The suspect has been transferred to a correctional facility in accordance with the court order. The case remains under further investigation to identify and prosecute additional individuals linked to the operation.

The Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS) said that from 2025 through Jan. 15, 2026, Cambodian courts have processed 37 major cases, resulting in legal action against 172 alleged ringleaders and accomplices.

Authorities said investigations are continuing to dismantle organised networks operating behind technology-related fraud schemes. 

Officials warned that, under the ongoing nationwide crackdown, strict legal measures will be enforced against all perpetrators without exception.

By K. Rithy Reak