Global hacking group Anonymous continued its attack on Cambodian websites Tuesday, this time claiming to have infiltrated and brought down the Anti-Corruption Unit website. The lawyer representing two recently arrested members of the group said he is concerned the hacks may affect his clients’ case in court.
On its Facebook page, Anonymous Cambodia—which on Sunday took over the Deum Ampil news website for 12 hours—vowed to continue its crusade in retaliation for the arrests, and said that ACU data had been compromised, although the site appeared to be operating as usual Tuesday. The ACU was first targeted by the group in September.
“I don’t care how much you criticize us, you cannot stop us even if our members have been arrested,” the Facebook post said.
“We will keep doing it and one thing you have to understand are our Anonymous principles. Our targets are government institutions, banks, disseminators of false information and illegal private institutions. But we are not going to attack schools or education institutions anymore,” the post said.
On April 7, Bun Khing Mongkul Panha, 21, and Chou Songheng, 21, were arrested for their hacking activities as members of Anonymous Cambodia.
On Tuesday, their lawyer, Dim Chaoseng, said he is concerned that the continued cyber attacks will negatively affect his clients’ court case.
“All the activity that Anonymous is doing at the moment is not going to help my clients,” he said. “It is going to get more difficult to release my clients on bail.”
Independent political analyst Kem Ley said he found the timing of the supposed hacks suspicious given that a draft cyber law is currently before the Council of Ministers.
“I don’t know if this is a real story that these two people or other people attacked government information or if it is an artificial game by the government,” he said.
“Based on my observations from the past 20 years or 10 years, they are always like that. With this sensitive issue, this is a game…to establish the cyber crime law.”
ACU Chairman Om Yentieng declined to comment.
(Additional reporting by Lauren Crothers)
