PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA — PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) – cambodian Lawmakers unanimously adopted a new law on Monday that could make targeting online scam operations punishable by up to life in prison, following the government’s pledge to shut them down by the end of April.
All 112 members of parliament voted to approve the law, which marks Cambodia’s first legal framework aimed specifically at a lucrative, illegal industry that has turned the country into a global hub for cybercrime.
scam operation Usually involves fraudulent investment schemes and fake romances that lead to mass extortion tens of billions of dollars from the victims around the world every year.
Justice Minister Keut Rith said thousands of people, especially from other Asian countries, are lured with fake job offers and forced to work in scam centers in almost slavery conditions.
Keut Rith told lawmakers that these crimes are a threat to public safety and significantly harm Cambodia’s global reputation.
The law is awaiting review by the Senate and final approval by King Norodom Sihamoni.
Directing what has been described as a technology fraud site could result in five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The prison term for cases involving human trafficking, illegal imprisonment or violence is 10 to 20 years.
If a worker dies, as is often associated with failed escape attempts, offenders face 15 to 30 years or even life in prison.
Senior Minister Chaya Sinarithwhich leads the commission to combat online scams, recently announced that authorities have targeted 250 suspicious sites since July, and successfully shut down 200.
He said enforcement efforts resulted in 79 legal cases against approximately 700 ringleaders and associates. During the same period the government Nearly 10,000 employees of the scam center were sent back home From 23 countries.
Experts are skeptical. Jacob Sims, visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Asia Center, explained in response to Chhay Sinarith’s comments that previous operations often failed because they left financial and security networks intact, allowing criminal operations to quickly restart.
