Suspect Leng Channa and two other associates admitted to receiving between $93 million and $98 million from an individual known as “Master 25” in a major investment fraud case, according to the results of the 10th meeting of the National Council of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) released on May 28, 2026.
According to the ACU, suspects Leng Channa, along with Chan Khin and Phon Samean, confessed that after receiving tens of millions of dollars, they used it to buy land for development projects and continued to pay interest to “Master 25” and those who invested in the project.
The case is considered very complex, involving many high-ranking officials and accomplices, while the victims are estimated to be around 5,000 people.
Suspect Leng Channa and his accomplices were arrested by Siem Reap authorities on March 12, 2024, in connection with a scheme to defraud citizens by promising high monthly interest rates.
The following day, the Siem Reap Provincial Court decided to charge Leng Channa, the CEO of Brilliant City, and two other deputy CEOs with aggravated fraud, failure to fulfill obligations on negotiable instruments, and money laundering.
After more than a month of investigation, the Siem Reap Provincial Court on April 17, 2024, ordered the detention of five defendants and froze 183 bank accounts and certain assets related to Billion City World Co., Ltd.
In connection with this case, the Anti-Corruption Unit also opened an investigation into two senior officials, Mr. Sean Borat, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education, and Mr. Sar Thavy, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of National Defense, in July 2025.
The fraud case of former tycoon Leng Channa was also assigned by Prime Minister Hun Manet to Mr. Ky Tech, head of the government legal team, to handle and protect the interests of the victims.
The government stated that the investigation found that the investment project of Brilliant City was a Ponzi Scheme that took money from new investors and paid it to old investors to create continued credibility.
