Who is Kuong Li and why was he arrested?

Kuong Li is a Cambodian businessman arrested and charged with illegal recruitment, fraud, organized crime, and money laundering, linked to alleged online scam operations.

What was the BBC Eye investigation into scam compounds?

The BBC investigation exposed alleged human trafficking and fraud within scam compounds in Southeast Asia, particularly highlighting the Huang Le compound in Sihanoukville.

What is Cambodia doing to combat online fraud?

Cambodia is prioritizing the fight against tech-savvy crimes, with ongoing investigations into wider networks and recent convictions of 172 individuals.

Home / Crime and Justice / Cambodian Businessman Linked to Scams Arrested

Cambodian Businessman Linked to Scams Arrested

21 Jan

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Summary

Businessman charged with fraud, organized crime, and money laundering.
He was featured in a 2023 BBC investigation into scam compounds.
Cambodian authorities are intensifying efforts against online fraud networks.

Cambodian Businessman Linked to Scams Arrested

Cambodian authorities have arrested Kuong Li, a 50-year-old businessman featured in a 2023 BBC Eye investigation into alleged online scam operations. He faces charges including illegal recruitment for exploitation, aggravated fraud, organized crime, and money laundering for offenses allegedly committed since 2019. A Phnom Penh court ordered his pre-trial detention on January 15, 2026.

Kuong Li was identified as the owner of the Huang Le compound in Sihanoukville, a location central to the BBC's documentary, 'The Pig Butchering Romance Scam'. The investigation highlighted allegations of human trafficking and forced labor within such compounds, with one victim describing being forced to work from 8 PM to 8 AM, targeting victims in Europe and the US.

Despite Cambodian authorities initially dismissing the allegations as "groundless" in April 2023, the ongoing crackdown signals a shift. Cambodia's Prime Minister, Hun Manet, has declared "fighting tech-savvy crimes" a priority. Courts handled 37 major cases between 2025 and mid-January 2026, convicting 172 individuals. This action follows the extradition of Chinese businessman Chen Zhi earlier in 2026 for allegedly masterminding a vast scam network.