PHNOM PENH, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The Senate of Cambodia on Friday gave final approval to a new law on combating online scams, which will carry up to 30 years' imprisonment or life imprisonment for scam bosses.
The approval was made during an extraordinary session under the chairmanship of the Senate's acting President Ouch Borith, said Lay Samkol, secretary-general of the Senate.
"All 55 senators in attendance unanimously adopted the bill without any amendment," he said in a press release.
The new bill will be submitted to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni for promulgation.
Under the new law, leaders of online scam operations will face 15 to 30 years in prison or life imprisonment if their operations lead to one or many deaths.
The Southeast Asian country has launched an unprecedented nationwide crackdown on cyber scam networks to maintain social security and public order and restore the kingdom's image on the international stage.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Sokha said in late February that Cambodia had deported more than 30,000 suspected foreign scammers, as over 210,000 others had voluntarily left the kingdom after operations against online scams have intensified since June last year. ■
