Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry says the arrest of Chinese national Vincent Chen Zhi reflects the country’s determination to crack down on cross-border crime, particularly online scam operations.
The ministry’s position was reported by the pro-government outlet Fresh News, quoting Foreign Minister and Minister for International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn in an interview with Reuters on January 14, 2026.
Prak Sokhonn said Cambodia continues to work closely with partner countries to combat transnational crime. He added that cooperation on tackling online fraud is ongoing with several nations, including the United States, China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand.
According to the foreign minister, the arrest of Vincent Chen Zhi was the result of a lengthy investigation into online scam activities carried out by Cambodian authorities. He acknowledged that while Chen Zhi held Cambodian nationality, it was not legally obtained at the time of the investigation. As a Chinese citizen, Chen Zhi was therefore extradited to China.
Cambodian authorities detained Chen Zhi on January 6, 2026, before transferring him to the People’s Republic of China. His royal title of oknha was revoked by order of the Cambodian king in December 2025.
However, regional geopolitical observer Seng Vanly criticised the government’s explanation, writing on social media that the comments by Prak Sokhonn lacked transparency. He said the case highlighted weaknesses in Cambodia’s system of checks and balances, leaving leaders under little pressure to be accountable for their actions and statements.
Rights advocates have also raised concerns. The Cambodia Advocacy Team, known as Cambodia Advocacy Team, said on January 13 that transferring Chen Zhi to China without a court hearing constituted a serious violation of Cambodia’s justice system. The group argued that the move denied justice to victims linked to the alleged scam operations.
The organisation claimed the extradition was intended to eliminate evidence of crimes allegedly committed by Chen Zhi in Cambodia, including money laundering, online fraud, and the abuse of victims. It also alleged that the transfer prevented further scrutiny of financial flows and scam locations previously operating inside the country.
In a separate development, the United States Department of Justice said in a statement on October 14, 2025, that more than 100 companies, 118 in total, had been accused of links to online fraud connected to Chen Zhi.
US federal prosecutor Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a court filing in October 2025 that Chen Zhi’s Prince Group had allegedly run scam operations across Cambodia since 2015. The filing accused the company of operating fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes and other scams under the guise of a Cambodian conglomerate.
According to prosecutors, the group was involved in real estate development, financial services, and consumer services, causing losses amounting to billions of dollars and targeting victims in the United States and around the world.
