The Cambodian National Assembly on Monday unanimously approved a robust draft law designed to dismantle online scam syndicates, introducing severe penalties including life imprisonment for masterminds. A total of 112 lawmakers present voted in favour of the legislation, which aims to curb the rapid growth of cyber-fraud within the kingdom. This legislative push acts as a mechanical necessity to restore the nation’s international standing and safeguard public security following a surge in cross-border criminal activity.
Under the new provisions, leaders of online syndicates will face between 15 and 30 years in prison, or a life sentence, if their operations result in one or more deaths. The law also targets the administrators of scam centres, who face five to 10 years of incarceration and fines reaching 1 billion riel (US250,000). Should these operations involve more heinous crimes such as torture, human trafficking, illegal confinement, or forced labour, the penalties escalate to between 10 and 20 years of imprisonment with fines doubled to 2 billion riel (US500,000).
Individual online scammers are not exempt from the crackdown, with the law stipulating jail terms of two to five years and fines of up to 500 million riel (US$125,000). Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Koeut Rith informed parliament that Cambodia is currently among many regional nations grappling with sophisticated cyber-criminal networks. He emphasised that these crimes have not only compromised public order but have severely tarnished Cambodia’s reputation on the global stage, necessitating a more aggressive legal deterrent.
The draft law will now move to the Senate for further review before being presented to King Norodom Sihamoni for royal assent. This legislative milestone coincides with a massive nationwide enforcement campaign launched by the government to eradicate cyber-scam networks. The Southeast Asian nation has set an ambitious target to eliminate all active online scam hubs by April this year, reflecting a heightened commitment to regional security cooperation and the protection of foreign nationals targeted by these syndicates.
Providing a broader context of the ongoing crackdown, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Sokha revealed in February that enforcement actions have already yielded significant results. Since June 2025, Cambodia has deported over 30,000 foreign suspects linked to fraudulent activities, while more than 210,000 others have voluntarily departed the country as operations intensified. The new law is expected to provide the necessary legal framework to sustain these efforts and ensure long-term stability within the digital landscape.
