Chen Zhi, a Chinese national and suspected ringleader of a major cross-border gambling and telecom fraud criminal syndicate Photo: Screenshot of a CCTV report

Amid mounting international pressure to curb the scam centers in Cambodia, the country has rolled out a new law targeting technology-based scams, a move Chinese experts said signals a stronger political will to address the long-standing issue and provides clearer legal grounds for joint crackdowns with countries including China.

Law enforcement officials across all 25 capital-provinces in Cambodia are set to begin enforcing the newly enacted law, Cambodian English-language media outlet Phnom Penh Post reported Tuesday, citing the law that was signed on Monday.

The Law on Combating Technology-Based Scams, comprising five chapters and 24 articles, officially came into force following its signing by acting head of state Hun Sen, according to the Phnom Penh Post. 

The legislation introduces five new criminal offences: technology-based fraud, organizing or leading scam centers, recruiting or training participants, the malicious collection of personal data and a specific form of money laundering, the report said. 

Under the new provisions, offenders could face penalties of up to life imprisonment, fines of up to one billion riel ($250,000) and the confiscation of assets. The media outlet noted that the legislation targets online crime and "with the goal of restoring the Kingdom's global reputation."

The Phnom Penh Post also cited Chhay Sinarith, head of the National Committee to Combat Technology-Based Scams, as saying that combating such scams is a top priority for the seventh-mandate government and that the law must be enforced strictly and transparently, with no tolerance or leniency.

Chinese experts said the legislation will significantly strengthen Cambodia's domestic regulation of online fraud, while also providing a clearer legal basis for joint law enforcement cooperation with countries including China. They noted the move reflects both mounting international pressure and Cambodia's growing collaboration with neighboring countries on tackling cross-border scams.

"The introduction of legislation targeting tech-based scams shows Cambodia's determination to intensify its crackdown under international pressure and respond to global concerns," Zhou Shixin, director of the Center of Southeast Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

While many countries address such crimes under general criminal law provisions, Cambodia's decision to enact a dedicated law highlights the severity of the problem and its firm stance, Zhou said.

Cambodia has long been affected by scam-related activities, which have drawn sustained scrutiny from foreign governments and media outlets. In a report, the BBC visited a scam compound in O Smach, a town near the border with Thailand, noting that "For years the Cambodian government ignored the growing international concern over the scam industry and the crimes linked to it."

However, the report by BBC noted that the government changed tack this year, after sustained pressure from the US, China and other countries to act against the scams. Among the most notable moves was the repatriation of Chen Zhi, a Chinese national and suspected ringleader of a major cross-border gambling and telecom fraud criminal syndicate, from Phnom Penh back to China in January.

Zhou noted that Cambodia has recently taken stronger measures against online fraud, as well as cooperation with China. 

"In particular, joint actions between China and Cambodia have yielded tangible results. Still, further sustained efforts are needed to root out an industry that has become deeply embedded in Cambodian society," he said.

Reuters also noted that Cambodia previously lacked legislation to specifically target scams.

Experts said the new law could play a positive role in improving Cambodia's international image and its standing among neighboring countries, especially given that cyber scams often have cross-border impacts on countries including Thailand, Myanmar and China.

The legislation provides a legal basis for defining crimes, convictions and sentencing, which is essential for joint law enforcement operations between Cambodia and countries including China, Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

According to the Xinhua News Agency, China's Ministry of Public Security announced on April 1 that Li Xiong, another key member of a major cross-border gambling and fraud syndicate, had been repatriated from Cambodia to China. The move comes after Chen was repatriated from Cambodia to China earlier this year.

In addition, China and Cambodia have deepened cooperation in combating cyber fraud. On March 16, a handover ceremony of supplies donated by China's Ministry of Public Security to Cambodia's anti-scam authorities was held in Phnom Penh.

For some time, China has actively cooperated with Cambodia and other countries in combating crimes of cross-border telecom and online fraud. These efforts have achieved remarkable results, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a press conference on April 1. "We will continue to work with neighboring countries, including Cambodia, to step up law enforcement cooperation to protect the safety of the people and their property, and uphold the order of exchanges and cooperation between regional countries."