Case Explained: Former Tycoon detained for illegal recruitment for exploitation, aggravated fraud, organized crime, and money laundering – Legal Perspective

Phnom Penh Municipal Court has decided to detain former tycoon Ly Kuong in connection with online scams

Mr. Chhe Vivattanak, the investigating judge of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, on January 15, 2026, decided to issue an order to detain the accused, Ly Kuong, male, 50 years old, at the Phnom Penh Prison (PJ) to await trial according to legal procedures after being found to be involved in a case of online scams.

According to the detention order, the person is charged with the following offenses: illegal recruitment for exploitation, aggravated fraud, organized crime, and money laundering, committed in Cambodia and elsewhere since 2019 to the present.

The offenses are punishable under Articles 377 and 380 of the Criminal Code and Article 38 of the Law on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism.

The detention decision was made after the authorities conducted a thorough investigation and found evidence showing irregular activities in exploiting other people’s assets under the guise of investments or untransparent business, then using the funds to circulate to deceive the authorities, launder money, and use casino and hotel locations to trap people in online fraud since 2019 until now.

The person has now been sent to a correctional center to comply with the investigating judge’s decision.

The case is currently under further investigation to find other people involved and punish them according to the law.

Kuong originally hails from Kampong Cham province and has previously bought and sold land, and owned a casino in Sihanoukville, which has been linked to alleged torture and forced confinement.

The Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Cybercrime (CCC) said that from 2025 to January 15, 2026, Cambodian courts have implemented procedures in 37 major cases to convict 172 ringleaders and accomplices.

Meanwhile, authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover the network of organizations behind this technology-based scam.

Within the framework of the campaign to clean up this technology-based fraud, various authorities across the country will take the strictest legal action against all the masterminds involved in this technology-based fraud, without exception.