Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior maintains that no state institution authorises the use of police vehicles or other government resources to serve private interests, notably of illegal activities, while suggesting that claims of profit-sharing with government officials in exchange for police protection may be attempts by private individuals to exaggerate their influence.
The clarification follows an investigative documentary released by international broadcaster Al Jazeera on October 10, which exposed the alleged use of hotels and tourist facilities as fronts for online scam operations.
The investigation also raised questions about connections between businesspeople accused of involvement in scam compounds and individuals with links to state institutions.
Touch Sokhak, deputy ministry spokesperson, said claims made by Deng Pibing in Al Jazeera’s investigation about distributing money to secure stability and protection for his business could be attempts to boast about his influence and powerful connections to impress his guests, who unbeknownst to him, were undercover journalists, who claimed to be interested in investing in an illegal criminal enterprise.
“First, this is a matter of boasting, flaunting influence and showing off his power to his associates, making himself appear extraordinary, powerful and backed by influential people,” he stated.
Sokhak added that any profit-sharing arrangement between private individuals and government officials, if proven, would constitute an illegal act rather than an arrangement authorised or endorsed by a public institution.
“No public institution engages in sharing profits from improper activities or distributing benefits with private individuals,” he said.
In Al Jazeera’s documentary piece, Deng was filmed claiming that a substantial portion of his earnings was distributed to local authorities in exchange for stability and protection for the Long Bay compound in the Dara Sakor area of Koh Kong province.
According to the claims featured in the documentary, Deng said he kept only $2 out of every $10 profit, with the remaining $8 distributed to ensure that his business could continue operating.
The claims do not independently establish that any government official received payments or participated in protecting illegal activities.
Sokhak did not confirm whether the ministry has launched a specific investigation into the bribery allegations.
Regarding footage showing vehicles bearing police licence plates and insignia in the documentary, Sokkhak maintained that no state institution permits government vehicles to be used for private interests.
“No state institution authorises the use of government vehicles, whether bearing official licence plates, logos or sirens, to serve private individuals, particularly for activities that are inconsistent with the law,” he said.
He explained that, in some cases, privately owned vehicles may be modified or fitted with counterfeit licence plates, government insignia and sirens to create the impression that they belong to state institutions or have received official authorisation.
Such practices, he said, could be intended to demonstrate influence, intimidate others or create the perception that the individuals using the vehicles have connections with the authorities.
However, Sokkhak did not confirm whether the vehicles shown in Al Jazeera’s documentary were genuine police vehicles or privately owned vehicles displaying counterfeit insignia.
Nor did he identify any officers who might have been involved or specify whether an investigation into the vehicles had been launched.
Separately, he responded to allegations regarding Cheat Mony, reportedly a member of the national police’s bodyguard department. Mony appeared alongside Deng several times in the documentary, referring to him as her “big brother” in one, and surrounded by illegal drugs during a nightclub scene in another.
Sokhak reiterated that police regulations and professional codes of conduct prohibit officers from engaging in unethical conduct or participating in illegal businesses.
He stressed that assessing the relationship between two individuals requires consideration of the circumstances in which their association occurred, whether any criminal offence had been committed and whether one party was aware of the other’s alleged illegal activities.
“In all circumstances, we must rely on the facts, the law and evidence to ensure equality and justice,” he said.
His remarks come amid questions about the professional ethics and accountability of police officers, some of whom are alleged to have had close connections with individuals accused of involvement in technology-related fraud.
Regarding the status of the Long Bay compound in Dara Sakor, Sokhak noted that Cambodian authorities had already raided the location featured in the documentary after administrative investigations uncovered evidence of technology-related fraud.
He explained that Al Jazeera’s documentary brought together footage from the broadcaster’s own investigation and previous operations conducted by Cambodian law enforcement authorities, ranging from administrative inspections and investigations to raids on locations where evidence of criminal activity had been discovered.
“The authorities have already carried out the crackdown, which was reported by international media. Al Jazeera’s documentary itself also confirmed that the location had previously been raided by the authorities,” he said.
However, he did not provide details about the date of the raid, the number of suspects arrested or the compound’s current operational status.
Sokhak also responded to images showing meetings between businesspeople and senior government leaders, arguing that photographs of previous legitimate business relations or discussions about lawful investment projects should not be used to implicate officials in an individual’s subsequent illegal activities without evidence.
“We cannot take photographs of those previous meetings and link them to an individual’s wrongdoing or illegal activities,” he said.
He emphasised that legal responsibility must be determined on the basis of provable conduct and evidence, rather than merely through personal connections or photographs of past meetings.
Al Jazeera’s revelations have raised further questions about the possibility that online scam networks may have exploited personal connections, government insignia and legitimate business establishments to conceal illegal operations.
While the ministry maintains that the use of state resources for private interests and profit-sharing from illegal activities were not authorised, questions remain unanswered about investigations into the individuals and officials identified in the documentary, as well as the outcomes of the crackdown on the Long Bay compound.