Senior Cambodian officials have rejected accusations from Thai authorities against prominent businessmen and senators Kok An and Ly Yong Phat, describing them as fabricated and politically motivated.
Former Information Minister and current member of the Supreme Privy Council to the King, Khieu Kanharith, wrote on Facebook that after Thai authorities targeted Kok An and his relatives, they are now pursuing Ly Yong Phat and his son, Chokchai Suphapa. He said the move includes freezing assets, seizing homes and bank accounts held by Ly Yong Phat in Thailand, and issuing multiple charges.
Khieu Kanharith compared the current situation to what he called Thailand’s “hostile behavior” in the 1980s toward those who supported the People’s Republic of Kampuchea. He recalled that during that period, Cambodian officials and diplomats avoided flights passing through Thailand because of safety concerns. According to him, some feared Thai authorities could secretly plant illegal substances in their luggage to justify arrests at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport.
On November 9, the Khaosod newspaper reported that a Thai court had issued arrest warrants for Ly Yong Phat, a Cambodian senator and business magnate, along with five associates, on charges of conspiracy and money laundering. The report said investigators had found clear evidence linking them to online fraud networks. Thai authorities have since confiscated 36 properties, including three condominiums in Bangkok and land worth more than 400 million baht.
Cambodian People’s Party spokesman Chea Thyrith described the Thai court’s decision as “a politically charged maneuver.”
The controversy follows an earlier move on October 23, 2025, when Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office froze assets belonging to Ly Yong Phat, owner of L.Y.P Group, worth around 70 million baht, approximately 1.9 million US dollars, over alleged ties to an online scam ring.
Earlier this year, on July 8, Senate President Hun Sen said Thailand’s crackdown on online criminal networks should be viewed as part of regional efforts to reduce cross-border cybercrime, some of which has affected Cambodia.
Despite these statements, Cambodian officials maintain that the accusations against their senators are baseless and politically driven, accusing Thai authorities of attempting to tarnish Cambodia’s political and business figures.
