Background
Provincial police units carried out an operation targeting a suspected online scam facility located in Bavet Plaza, Bavet city, Svay Rieng province on 17 May 2026. The Svay Rieng provincial police worked with the Bavet municipal administrative command and coordinated with the deputy prosecutor of the provincial court to investigate suspected online scams. Authorities detained 129 people, including seven women, and seized All‑In‑One desktop computers, mobile phones, and other electronic devices at the Bavet Plaza site.
Specialized investigators are preparing case files to forward to the Svay Rieng Provincial Court for legal proceedings, while the premises have been temporarily sealed by the working group. The operation followed direct orders from the national police leadership and local police command structures to address online fraud conducted through technological platforms.
Key Developments
The enforcement action resulted in the temporary closure of the Bavet Plaza location where suspected online scam activity was concentrated. Detainees included foreign nationals from multiple countries: 103 people from China (five women), 11 from Vietnam (two women), 10 from Pakistan, four from Bangladesh, and one from Myanmar. Seized items documented by investigators comprised desktop All‑In‑One computers, mobile phones, and additional electronic equipment used in the alleged operations.
Institutional Role
The National Police’s provincial command led the field operation with support from municipal administrative authorities and the provincial court prosecutor’s office, reflecting a multi-agency enforcement mechanism for technology-facilitated crime. Provincial police are responsible for on-the-ground arrests and evidence collection, while prosecutors review the compiled files to determine prosecutorial steps under Cambodia’s criminal procedure.
Operational Implications
The case file preparation and temporary sealing of the premises indicate standard procedural steps before judicial action in Cambodia’s criminal justice process. Businesses and property managers hosting commercial spaces may be subject to closure orders when premises are implicated in suspected illegal online activities, pending court decisions.
