Key Actors

Who’s Who?

Various actors are implicated in or exposed to online crime operations in Cambodia, with several involved or interacting with multiple operations. Below is an overview of key actors covered in the various profiles documented on this site.

Ahr San

About

A Myanmar national, Ahr San is linked to 25 companies in Cambodia. No further information is available on her background.

She has links to the following operations:

  • White Sand: Ahr San holds director and chairman positions at multiple companies connected to White Sand Group, including Fairplay International, which received the casino license for White Sand Palace.

Aik Paung

About

Aik Paung was born in Myanmar in 1970 but acquired Cambodian citizenship in 2018. No further information is available on his background.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Jinshui: Aik Paung was photographed with the developer of Jinshui meeting the Cambodian Prime Minister and his wife in 2018.

  • K99 Group: K99 Group runs junkets with Nanhai Pearl Hotel. Aik Paung has appeared publicly with K99 owner Rithy Raksmei at multiple public events. In company registration records, Aik Paung uses the same address as Rithy Raksmei.

  • Nanhai: Aik Paung is a director at the company that owns Nanhai Pearl Hotel.

Alvin Chau

Cheok Wa Chau / Zhou Zhuohua (周焯華)
About

Macau-born Alvin Chau entered the gambling industry in his early twenties, eventually becoming known as the ‘junket king’ as head of Suncity Group. Chau was reportedly banned from entering Australia due to alleged money-laundering and links to the 14K triad. In 2019, Chinese state media ran a report accusing Chau of running a multi-billion-dollar online gaming operation from Cambodia and the Philippines that illegally targeted gamblers in mainland China. He was arrested in late 2021 in Macau and went on trial in 2022 for running a massive illegal online and proxy betting operation via VIP lounges in Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines. In January 2023, Chau was sentenced by a Macau court to 18 years in jail on over 100 charges including organised crime and illegal gambling.

He has links to the following projects:

  • Jinshui: A subsidiary of Chau’s Suncity Group Holdings signed an agreement with Golden Sun Sky Entertainment Co., Ltd., a company owned by Dong Lecheng, the developer of Jinshui.
  • K99 Group: Rithy Raksmei shared the stage at the above-mentioned signing ceremony with Golden Sun Sky Entertainment. Rithy Raksmei is the founder of K99 Group.
  • Nanhai: Suncity had VIP gaming rooms at the Xigang International Casino, which is located inside the Xi-Hu Resort Hotel. Xi-Hu is owned by the same people who own the Nanhai Hotel.

Chen Al Len

ឈិន អាល ឡែន / Chen Fuzhou
About

Born in Fujian Province in 1978 as Chen Fuzhou, Chen received Cambodian citizenship in 2018 under the name Chen Al Len. Chen has a low profile and no further biographical information is available.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Kaibo: Chen is director of KB Hotel and RSX Investment.

  • MDS Henghe Thmorda Special Economic Zone: Chen Al Len holds director positions at three Henghe linked companies and is chairman at one. Henghe is the developer of the MDS Henghe compound in Pursat.

Deng Pibing

邓丕兵
About

Born in Hanshou County in Hunan Province, China, in 1980, Deng Pibing has been in Cambodia since 2003 and obtained Cambodian citizenship in 2016. He is the founder of Zhengheng Group and holds director positions at over twenty companies in Cambodia. He is president of the Cambodia-China Culture and Tourism Industry Promotion Association and honorary chairman of the Hunan General Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, among other positions.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Long Bay: Deng is the founder and chairman of Zhengheng Group, which developed the Long Bay resort in Koh Kong.

  • Zhengheng New Energy Building: A Zhengheng New Energy property was raided in 2022 by Sihanoukville police. The company is part of the Zhengheng Group.

Dong Lecheng

董勒成 / Heng Tong (ហេង តុង)
About

Dong Lecheng is the founder and chairman of the Yunnan Jingcheng Group Co., Ltd., headquartered in Ruili City, Yunnan Province, China. He owns several companies in Cambodia, including Golden Sun Sky Entertainment. Dong Lecheng’s signature project in Cambodia is a major hotel and casino development in the Otres beach area of Sihanoukville. This is centred around a massive hotel and entertainment building, flanked by numerous apartment blocks, including Jinshui, a notorious scam complex. After arriving in Cambodia, Dong Lecheng networked extensively and has been photographed multiple times with the Prime Minister and his family members, as well as powerful government, police, and military actors. Born in Yunnan in 1968, Dong became a Cambodian citizen in 2014, taking the Cambodian name Heng Tong. Dong has been implicated in numerous criminal cases in China related to illegal gambling and corruption.  

He has links to the following operations:

  • Jinshui: Jinshui is located within the Golden Sun Sky/Jingcheng development in the ‘Chinatown’ area of Otres beach.

  • K99 Group: In 2018, Dong Lecheng sold two buildings in the Jinshui Golden Sun Sky development area to Rithy Raksmei, owner of K99 Group. He has been photographed at events with Rithy Raksmei numerous times since.

  • Kaibo: There are rumours that Dong Lecheng is linked to the Kaibo compound, and Dong Lecheng has been photographed numerous times with Senator Kok An and his late son-in-law Rithy Samnang, both of which have documented links to Kaibo. Kok An has visited Dong Lecheng in Yunnan.

  • Nanhai: Dong Lecheng was photographed in 2018 with Aik Paung, a co-owner of Nanhai, meeting the Cambodian Prime Minister and his wife.

Hing Bun Hieng

ហ៊ីង ប៊ុនហៀង
About

Four-star General Hing Bun Hieng is the commander of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Bodyguard Unit. In 2018 he was sanctioned by the United States Treasury Department sanctioned him under the Global Magnitsky Act for ‘being the leader of an entity involved in serious human rights abuse’, including a 1997 grenade attack on an opposition party rally that killed 16 people and injured more than 150.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Pacific Real Estate / Golden Phoenix: Hing Bun Hieng received donations from executives at Jinsha Holding Group, the original developer of the Pacific/Golden Phoenix park. He appears to have had a particularly close relationship with the company chairman, Yu Lingxiong. When reporters went to investigate the workers’ escape from the compound, men in camouflage told them to direct their questions to Hing Bun Hieng.

Kok An

កុក អាន
About

Born in Koh Kong Province in 1954, Kok An began a trading business in the 1980s trading goods between Thailand and Vietnam. In the 1990s, he moved into fishing and the cigarette industry. He controls numerous companies directly or via family members, including Crown Resorts Casino in Poi Pet and the distribution company ANCO Brothers. He also owns power plants and distributes the 555 brand of cigarettes for British American Tobacco in Cambodia. He currently serves as a Cambodia People’s Party senator and advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen. He is also a member of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce and on the board of the Cambodian Red Cross. Kok An’s son, Phu Sae Ping, is married to Ly Yong Phat’s daughter, Ly Yaowalak.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Crown High-Tech Industrial Park: Kok An owns this industrial park in Sihanoukville under his ‘Crown’ brand.

  • Jinshui: Kok An has been photographed numerous times with Jinshui developer Dong Lecheng, attended signing ceremonies, and visited Dong Lecheng in Yunnan.

  • K99 Group: Kok An has appeared at numerous K99 Group events. He is the father-in-law of the late brother of the K99 Group founder.

  • Kaibo: Kok An is father-in-law of the late Rithy Samnang, founder and former chair of KB Hotel and RSX Investment, as well as founder of KBX Investment. Kok An was centre stage at the ground-breaking ceremony of KB Central.

  • Nanhai: Kok An has appeared at events at Nanhai with his late son-in-law Rithy Samnang and the latter’s brother, Rithy Raksmei.

Liu Yang

刘阳 / Liu Le O (លៀវ លីអូ)
About

Born in Inner Mongolia in 1986, Liu Yang obtained Cambodian citizenship in 2019. In 2021 he became an advisor to Cambodia’s National Assembly First Deputy President, earning the title of ‘Excellency’, with rank equal to a minister. Various media reports connect him to online fraud and crypto scams, and rumours have circulated that he fled Cambodia for Dubai.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Pacific Real Estate / Golden Phoenix: Liu Yang is director of Jinsha Holding Group, which developed the Pacific/Golden Phoenix park. According to a company statement, Jinsha sold the park in 2021 to Pacific Real Estate Property Management Co., Ltd.

Ly Yong Phat

លី យ៉ុងផាត់
About

Ly Yong Phat was born in Koh Kong in 1958. He has built an expansive business portfolio importing and exporting cigarettes, generating electricity in Koh Kong, and running casinos and resorts. He also has extensive property investments and has been involved in several high-profile land conflicts linked to agriculture concessions. He is a Cambodian People Party Senator, an advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen, and sits on the board of the Cambodian Red Cross. Ly Yong Phat’s daughter, Ly Yaowalak, is married to Kok An’s son, Phu Sae Ping. In December 2022 he was appointed as advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Jinshui: Ly Yong Phat has been photographed numerous times with Jinshui developer Dong Lecheng, including meetings with Cambodia’s Prime Minister, and several ceremonies launching projects and signing new business deals. Ly Yong Phat has visited Dong Lecheng in Yunnan.

Rithy Raksmei

ឬទ្ធី រស្មី / Xie Liguang (謝利光)
About

Brother of the late Rithy Samnang, son-in-law of Senator Kok An. Rithy Samnang is the owner of junket operator K99 Group.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Jinshui: Rithy Raksmei has been photographed numerous times with Jinshui developer Dong Lecheng, including several ceremonies launching projects and signing new business deals. In 2018, Rithy Raksmei’s K99 Group purchased two buildings from Dong Lecheng in the ‘Chinatown’ area. He also visited Dong at his company headquarters in Yunnan.

  • K99 Group: K99 Group is the developer of the Triumph City compound.

  • Kaibo: Rithy Raksmei appeared on stage at the ground-breaking of the KB Central event, alongside Senator Kok An and Xu Aimin.

  • Nanhai: Rithy Raksmei has close ties with the owners of Nanhai Pearl Hotel and its sister property Xihu Resort Hotel. K99 Group runs junkets through their casinos. The directors of Nanhai use the same address as Rithy Raksmei in their company registration documents.

Rithy Samnang

ឫទ្ធី សំណាង
About

Rithy Samnang is an okhna who died of a chronic illness in Singapore in May 2022. He appears in Cambodia’s business registry linked to over 30 companies in a range of sectors. He was the brother of Rithy Raksmei.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Jinshui: Rithy Samnang appeared in public numerous times with Jinshui developer Dong Lecheng, including several ceremonies launching projects and signing new business deals. He also visited Dong at his company headquarters in Yunnan.

  • K99 Group: Rithy Samnang was the brother of Rithy Raksmei, the owner of K99 Group. He appeared at numerous K99 Group events.

  • Kaibo: Founder and former chair of KB Hotel and RSX Investment, founder of KBX Investment. Present at the launch of KB Central project.

  • Nanhai: Rithy Raksmei’s K99 Group runs junkets with Nanhai Pearl Hotel, and he has appeared with Aik Paung at multiple public events. In company registration records, Nanhai directors Aik Paung and Sai Aung Linn use the same address as Rithy Raksmei.

Sai Aung Linn

About

Sai Aung Linn was born in Myanmar in 1974 but acquired Cambodian citizenship in 2018. No further information is available on his background.

He has links to the following operations:

  • K99 Group: K99 Group runs junkets with Nanhai Pearl Hotel. In company registration records, Sai Aung Linn uses the same address as Rithy Raksmei.

  • Nanhai: Sai Aung Linn is a director at the company that owns Nanhai Pearl Hotel.

Sai Lon

About

Sai Lon was born in Myanmar in 1980 but acquired Cambodian citizenship in 2018. No further information is available on his background. 

He has links to the following operations:

  • Royal Yongli / Royal Wynn: Sai Lon chairs several companies that are linked to the Royal Yongli site, one of which has marketed property in the compound, and one which had its offices on the first floor at least until mid-2021.
  • Nanhai: Sai Lon received Cambodian nationality the same week as two other Myanmar nationals: Sai Aung Linn and Aik Paung. They are directors at the company that owns Nanhai Pearl Hotel. Sai Lon’s companies are registered at the same address as companies owned by Sai Aung Linn and Aik Paung.

She Zhijiang

佘智江 / Tang Kriang Kai (តាំង គ្រាង ខាយ)
About

Other aliases: She Lunkai (佘伦凯), Jiang Lunkai (江伦凯), Dylan She, Dylan Jiang, She Kailun and Tang Kailun.

Born in Hunan Province, China, in 1982, She Zhijiang obtained Cambodian citizenship in 2017 and took the name Tang Kriang Kai. He is most well known for his involvement in the Shwe Kokko Special Economic Zone/Yatai New City project in Myanmar, but also had business interests in Cambodia. In 2020, Chinese media broke the news that he was wanted for illegal gambling charges in China and was living in Southeast Asia as a fugitive. He was arrested in Thailand in August 2022, and at the time this was reported he was awaiting extradition to China.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Long Bay: Now deleted articles from Yatai International Holdings discussed the company’s involvement in Long Bay, presenting She as an investor in the project. He was present when Long Bay was launched.

Su Jinde

苏金德
About

A Chinese national, Su Jinde has a relatively low profile and no further biographical information is available. He is not mentioned in company documents but has appeared at several Henghe events and is also honorary president of the Beijing Shishi Chamber of Commerce.

He has links to the following operations:

  • MDS Henghe Thmorda Special Economic Zone: Although not listed on company registration documents, Su Jinde has joined Henghe events and presented company projects in Sihanoukville, Bavet, and Pursat to potential investors.

Su Liangsheng

苏良生
About

Born in Fujian in 1974, Su Liangsheng received Cambodian citizenship in 2019. Su Zhongjian has a relatively low profile and no further biographical information is available. He is connected to more than 10 companies in Cambodia.

He has links to the following operations:

Su Zhongjian

ស៊ូ ជុងជៀន
About

Born in Fujian in 1983, Su Zhongjian received Cambodian citizenship in 2015. He has a relatively low profile and no further biographical information is available. Su is connected to over 20 companies in Cambodia.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Kaibo: Former director of KB Hotel and RSX Investment, stepped down in March 2021. He was present at the launch ceremony for the KB Central project. He has also invested in two other companies with Rithy Samnang.

  • MDS Henghe Thmorda Special Economic Zone: Su Zhongjian held positions at three Henghe companies but stepped down from them in 2020 to 2021. This included MDS Heng He Investment Co., Ltd.

Tang Kung

គួង តាំង
About

Tang Kung is a Cambodian tycoon and leads the Tang Kung Group conglomerate, which has interests in real estate development and digital payments, among others. Tang Kung is linked to over 25 companies in Cambodia.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Jingang Hotel: Tang Kung is the chairman of the company that developed the Jingang Hotel, Jing Kan Co., Ltd.

Try Pheap

ទ្រី ភាព
About

Once an adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Try Pheap has registered around twenty companies in Cambodia in a range of industries but is most well known for being one of the country’s most prolific illegal loggers. Try Pheap was sanctioned by the United States under the Global Magnitsky Act in 2019.

He has links to the following operations:

Van Veasna

វ៉ាន់ វាសនា
About

Van Veasna is a Cambodian national. No further information could be found on his background.

He has links to the following operations:

  • White Sand: Van Veasna is the chairman of Wisdom Valley Property Management, which in 2023 announced it was auctioning the property on which the White Sand 2 compound was located.

Wang Dingben

王丁本 / Wang Benson
About

Born in Fujian in 1977, Wang Dingben became a Cambodian citizen in 2018. Very little information is available on his background.

He has links to the following operations:

  • MDS Henghe Thmorda Special Economic Zone: Wang Dingben is director of Henghe Investment Development Group (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., although he does not appear on any company registration documents. The Henghe Group is a partner in the MDS Henghe Thmorda SEZ.

Wang Qiang

王強
About

Wang Qiang is a Chinese name, but the individual is listed in Cambodia’s business registry as a national of Saint Kitts and Nevis, a Caribbean island state that has an ‘investment-for-citizenship’ program. No further information is available on their background.

He/she has links to the following operations:

  • White Sand: Wang Qiang is chairman of White Sand Group and other associated companies.

Wang Yong / U Wang Young

王勇 / យូ វ៉ាងយុង
About

Wang Yong was born in Dianbai District, Maoming City, Guangdong Province of China, but has acquired both Myanmar and Cambodian citizenship. In the 1980s, he moved to northern Myanmar where he established casino operations in Wa State and Kachin State. In the 2000s he was chair of the Maijayang Special Economic Zone in Myanmar, a notorious gambling centre across the border from China that was shut down in the late 2010s. Wang Yong’s companies and associates have been implicated in illegal cross-border gambling that resulted in several criminal convictions in the 2010s.

He has links to the following operations:

  • Bavet Moc Bai Casino: Wang Yong is chairman of Casino Bavet-Moc Bai Co., Ltd., which owns Bavet Moc Bai Casino, under the name U Wang Young.
  • Yongyuan Casino: Wang Yong is chairman of Yong Yuan Real Estate Ltd, which owns Yongyuan Casino, under the name U Wang Young.

    Won Chwin Kyane / Sai Naw

    About

    Born in 1987 in Mandalay, Myanmar, Won Chwin Kyane received Cambodian citizenship in 2019. No further information is available on his/her background.

    He/she has links to the following operations: 

    • Bavet Moc Bai Casino: Won Chwin Kyane is a director at Casino Bavet-Moc Bai Co., Ltd., which owns Bavet Moc Bai Casino.
    • Yongyuan Casino: Won Chwin Kyane is a director at Yong Yuan Real Estate Ltd, which owns Yongyuan Casino.

    Won Chwin Kye / Maung Sai Kyaw

    About

    Born in 1993 in Mandalay, Myanmar, Won Chwin Kye received Cambodian citizenship in 2019. No further information is available on his/her background.

    He/she has links to the following operations: 

    • Bavet Moc Bai Casino: Won Chwin Kye is a director at Casino Bavet-Moc Bai Co., Ltd., which owns Bavet Moc Bai Casino.
    • Yongyuan Casino: Won Chwin Kye is a director at Yong Yuan Real Estate Ltd, which owns Yongyuan Casino.

    Won Chwin Lin / Lei Lei Win

    About

    Born in 1989 in Mandalay, Myanmar, Won Chwin Lin received Cambodian citizenship in 2019. No further information is available on his/her background.

    He/she has links to the following operations: 

    • Bavet Moc Bai Casino: Won Chwin Lin is a director at Casino Bavet-Moc Bai Co., Ltd., which owns Bavet Moc Bai Casino.
    • Yongyuan Casino: Won Chwin Lin is a director at Yong Yuan Real Estate Ltd, which owns Yongyuan Casino.

    Xu Aimin

    徐爱民 / ស៊ី អាយមីន
    About

    Born in Guangzhou in 1962, Xu Aimin acquired Cambodian citizenship in 2005. Xu is a fugitive from China, and in 2013 was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in jail for his role in masterminding an international gambling operation worth US$1.75 billion. This stems from a Chinese police investigation into an illegal gambling platform traced servers to Cambodia. He is also subject to a Hong Kong arrest warrant regarding allegations of laundering gambling proceeds through bank accounts in Hong Kong. Despite being subject to an international arrest warrant, he remains at liberty.

    He has links to the following operations:

    • Kaibo: Director of KB Hotel, RSX Investment and chair of KBX Investment. The road on which the Kaibo complex is located is called Xu Aimin Road.

    Yu Lingxiong

    俞凌雄 / Pov Chumnit (ពៅ ជំនិត)
    About

    Yu Lingxiong was born in China in 1981, and received Cambodian citizenship in 2017 under the name Pov Chumnit. Yu is wanted in China for running pyramid schemes and multi-level marketing scams. After arriving in Cambodia he networked extensively with government and military actors, but has been out of the public eye in recent years, and there are rumours that he is either in hiding in Cambodia or has moved to another country.

    He has links to the following operations:

    • Pacific Real Estate / Golden Phoenix: Yu Lingxiong is chairman of Jinsha Holding Group, which developed the Pacific/Golden Phoenix park. According to a company statement, Jinsha sold the park in 2021 to Pacific Real Estate Property Management Co., Ltd.

    • White Sand: Yu Lingxiong previously held the position of CEO at White Sand Palace and was described in company promotional materials as a shareholder. Between 2017 and 2019 he represented White Sand at numerous public events.


    Newsletter

    Our content is published under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). Read our Privacy & Cookie Policy.