PHNOM PENH, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia is confident of eliminating all online scam centers from the country after the Law on Combating Online Scams has been promulgated, a senior minister said.
Senior minister Chhay Sinarith, head of the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Online Scams, made the remarks during a briefing on the Law on Combating Online Scams to members of the diplomatic corps and international organizations on Wednesday, said a press release publicized on Thursday.
He said combating technology-based scams remains a top priority for the government and "expressed confidence that, with full international cooperation, online scam operations will be completely eradicated from Cambodia."
He called for continued support from international partners for capacity building, technical assistance, information sharing and coordinated repatriation efforts.
Sinarith also highlighted the increasing sophistication and complexity of technology-based scams extending across borders, as well as the serious harm they pose to public security and the national reputation of the country.
He elaborated on Cambodia's ongoing nationwide crackdown that has yielded significant results, and stressed the importance and relevance of the newly enacted law, which imposes stringent penalties on offenders, as a comprehensive and effective legal tool for law enforcement authorities to fight against online scams.
"The enforcement of the new law will be firm, transparent and consistent with due process, while ensuring full protection under the law for those cooperating with authorities, as well as genuine victims and innocent property owners," Sinarith said.
He also underlined many technical challenges confronting Cambodia and outlined the country's efforts to strengthen its capacity to address evolving criminal methods, including the use of artificial intelligence, encrypted platforms, external applications for illicit financial transactions, and fraudulent investment schemes.
Cambodia promulgated the Law on Combating Online Scams on April 6, with immediate effect.
Under the new law, online scam bosses will face between 15 and 30 years or life imprisonment if their operations lead to one or many deaths.
Ringleaders of online scam centers will face between five and 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 1 billion riels (about 250,000 U.S. dollars). They will face between 10 and 20 years in jail and a fine of up to 2 billion riels if their operations are found to involve violence, torture, illegal confinement, human trafficking, or forced labor.
Online scammers will be imprisoned between two and five years with a fine of up to 500 million riels.
The Southeast Asian country has launched an unprecedented nationwide crackdown on cyber scam networks in order to maintain social security, safety, and public order, and to restore the kingdom's image on the international stage.
Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Sokha said in 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 had intensified since June last year. ■