The Cambodian government is actively promoting the revision of the criminal law, planning to add new charges related to online fraud to strengthen the crackdown on rapidly developing cybercrimes. According to the Khmer Times, Ministry of Justice spokesperson Seng Dyna recently stated that the government has prioritized cybercrime research and is evaluating how to adjust the legal framework to more effectively address this challenge.
Seng Dyna revealed at the Ministry of Justice's annual conference that a technical working group is analyzing whether existing laws sufficiently cover emerging online fraud activities. He noted that if the current criminal law cannot effectively handle related cases, the Ministry of Justice will consider adding specific charges to fill legal gaps.
"We have not yet decided which new charges to add, but it is certain that online fraud has become a global issue. Our team is conducting in-depth research to ensure that the legal system can effectively respond," said Seng Dyna. He emphasized that combating such crimes requires not only legal revisions but also close cooperation between the police, prosecutors, and judges to ensure effective evidence collection and use.
In addition to legal revisions, the Cambodian government is also actively strengthening international cooperation to enhance the enforcement capability against online fraud. At the end of January this year, Cambodian officials received technical training provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), learning how to combat cryptocurrency fraud, identity theft, and other digital crimes. This training aims to enhance the professional capabilities of law enforcement officers to more effectively address increasingly complex cybercrime activities.
Furthermore, on December 24, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly officially passed the "United Nations Convention on Cybercrime," a global cybercrime treaty that provides a framework for legal and law enforcement cooperation among countries. The Cambodian Ministry of Interior also stated that it will continue to strengthen cooperation with Interpol and partners both within and outside the region to enhance the capability to combat transnational crime.
In recent years, Cambodia has been under scrutiny for issues related to online fraud and human trafficking. In 2024, the Cambodian Ministry of Interior handled 606 transnational crime cases, indicating that the country has become a hotspot for cybercrime activities. Ministry of Interior spokesperson Dusoka stated that the Cambodian government remains committed to cooperating bilaterally, multilaterally, and regionally to combat transnational crime and contribute to global cybersecurity.
As online fraud crimes continue to escalate, the Cambodian government hopes to establish a more comprehensive legal and law enforcement system through legal revisions and international cooperation to more effectively address this global challenge.
