Cambodian authorities have charged 32 police officers and four civilians over the alleged theft of materials from the Prek Chak casino site in Kampot province, which had been closed and preserved as evidence in a major online fraud case.
Kampot provincial police chief Mao Chanmathurith said on May 31 that prosecutors had charged all 36 suspects with initiating and conspiring in aggravated theft, destroying evidence, and receiving stolen property under Cambodia’s Criminal Code.
He also publicly released the identities of the suspects on the official social media page of the provincial police commission.
The case has drawn wide public attention because several of the accused police officers hold senior positions. They include a deputy Kampot provincial police chief in charge of border affairs, the Kampong Trach district police chief, six deputy district police chiefs, the commander of Border Protection Police Battalion 601, and several local police post chiefs.
According to local media reports, the officers had taken part in an operation targeting online fraud at the Prek Chak casino, near the Cambodia-Vietnam border. After the raid, several items kept as evidence were reportedly found missing from the site.
The same reports said the stolen items included mobile phones, computers, and other valuables worth tens of thousands of US dollars.
The Prek Chak casino site has been linked to former tycoon Li Kuong, who was detained by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in January 2026 on charges related to unlawful recruitment for exploitation, aggravated fraud, and money laundering.
There have also been allegations that some military police officers may be connected to the same case. But Eng Hy, spokesperson for the National Gendarmerie, told reporters that he had received information about the alleged involvement, but there had not yet been any official confirmation from prosecutors.
The case is being seen as unusual in Cambodia, with a large number of law enforcement officers facing criminal charges linked to evidence in a cross-border crime and online fraud investigation.
