Former tycoon Heng Sithy has warned Thailand not to tarnish Cambodia’s image over online crime, arguing that many of the ringleaders are in fact Thai nationals operating covertly inside Cambodia.
Speaking through his family to The Cambodia Daily, Heng Sithy said Thailand should “show more dignity” instead of portraying Cambodia as a haven for online scams. He insisted that Cambodian authorities had taken strong measures to prevent the country from being misrepresented internationally.
Sithy’s family added that online syndicates are difficult to track because they often disperse staff and utilize modern technologies, such as modbots, to control their operations. He called on the Ministry of Interior to adopt the strictest enforcement measures possible, saying crackdowns must be swift and relentless.
Sithy also declared his loyalty to Cambodia, saying he is Khmer “by blood and by spirit” and has no intention of fleeing abroad. “If I had wanted to run, I would already be living comfortably in the UK, US, or France,” he said. He stressed that during times of external threats, Cambodians must unite rather than criticize the country from overseas.
He voiced support for the government’s diplomatic efforts to maintain peace and security, but added that if Cambodia were ever attacked, he believed the country would defend its sovereignty without compromise.
Heng Sithy was extradited from Russia to Cambodia on May 24, 2025, under a bilateral agreement, after being charged by Cambodian courts with “serious threats” under the criminal code.
Since late 2024, Sitthy has gained attention for exposing alleged corruption and misconduct by wealthy elites, senior officials, and members of the armed forces on social media.
His comments come as international reports highlight Cambodia’s growing role in transnational fraud. A July 18 report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission described Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar as key hubs for online scams. It noted that Chinese actor Wang Xing was recently detained in Thailand and trafficked into a scam compound in Myanmar.
