Scam centres ‘destroying’ Cambodia’s economy, PM tells AFP

Scam centres ‘destroying’ Cambodia’s economy, PM tells AFP

Brussels (Belgium) (AFP) – Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Wednesday that scam centres were destroying his country’s economy and giving the nation a bad name — pushing back on allegations of government connivance.

The nation has emerged as a hotspot for crime syndicates running a multibillion-dollar fraud industry that sees scammers lure internet users globally into fake romantic relationships and cryptocurrency investments.

A background check did not raise red flags, he added, noting that Chen’s Prince Group conglomerate, which US authorities say was a cover for a “sprawling cyber-fraud empire”, had a presence in many countries including Britain.

Since around 2015, Prince Group has operated across more than 30 countries under the guise of legitimate real estate, financial services and consumer businesses, US prosecutors said.

Before allegations against him were brought forward, to Phnom Penh he was “just a businessman, contributing to the economy”.

“Whatever the activities, we (did) not know,” Hun Manet said, adding the authorities took action when they learnt about the alleged wrongdoing.

Chen directed operations of forced labour compounds across Cambodia, where trafficked workers were held in prison-like facilities surrounded by high walls and barbed wire, according to US prosecutors.

Prince Group has denied the allegations.

Hun Manet said his former advisor was extradited to China rather than the US due to his citizenship.

Chen was stripped of his Cambodian nationality after it emerged he used a fake document to obtain it, the prime minister said.

That left him with “only Chinese nationality” — compelling Cambodian authorities to extradite him to his home country, he added.