Cambodian authorities have arrested Li Kuong, the Chinese-Cambodian owner of the notorious Huang Le compound and former president of the Sihanoukville Casino Association, in the latest crackdown on large-scale telecom fraud operations.
Cambodian police recently detained 50-year-old Li, a prominent Chinese-Cambodian businessman who once held the honorary lord title.
He is the owner of the infamous Huang Le compound, a large integrated complex in Sihanoukville widely linked to telecom fraud and human exploitation.
On Thursday, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s investigating judge ordered Huang to be remanded in custody at Prey Sar Prison pending further judicial proceedings.
Prosecutors accuse Li of being a key organizer and operator of an organized network engaged in telecom fraud.
He allegedly illegally recruited and exploited individuals for fraud activities, committed aggravated fraud, and laundered money.
The crimes are said to have occurred in Cambodia and other regions since 2019.
Investigators claim Li used casinos, hotels, and other venues under his control to systematically detain people and force them into online scam operations over an extended period, with him occupying a central leadership role in the criminal network.
The Huang Le compound has gained international notoriety.
Foreign media, including the BBC, previously reported severe abuse and harsh conditions inside the compound.
In one widely cited 2022 case, a Chinese national who fell ill inside the park received no medical care and was abandoned on a highway.
Under sustained pressure from China and the international community, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has declared the fight against telecom fraud a top national priority. The government has promised continued tough enforcement to eradicate the problem and restore Cambodia’s international reputation.
On the same day as the court's decision, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Sokha met with a visiting senior Chinese public security official and reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to deepening law-enforcement cooperation with China and other countries to dismantle cross-border telecom fraud networks.
The Chinese side expressed strong appreciation for Cambodia’s resolute actions, noting that these efforts will improve the country’s global image and support long-term economic and social development.
