Phnom penh: The Royal Government of Cambodia remains firmly committed to preventing and suppressing all forms of cross-border crimes, particularly online scams, and calls on all nations to strengthen cooperation in addressing these issues, rather than expressing emotions or placing blame on any one country.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior emphasized in a press release dated Oct. 13 that effective combat against global crime requires states to work together, avoiding emotional responses or shifting responsibility, which only creates opportunities for criminals to continue their offences. These remarks followed the release of a report by the General Commissariat of National Police concerning the investigation into the death of a young South Korean national.
The report details that the victim, 22-year-old Park Minho, was found deceased inside a car in North Kampong Bay village, Sangkat Kampong Bay, Kampot city, at around 2:00 a.m. on Aug. 8, 2025. Two Chinese suspects were arrested immediately following the discovery. Park Minho had arrived in Cambodia on July 17, 2025, and a preliminary autopsy indicated that he died of a heart attack caused by severe torture, with multiple bruises and injuries across his body.
The spokesperson clarified that there was no complaint or information received from the victim's family or the South Korean Embassy, countering a report by the South China Morning Post that suggested the family had sought assistance through the embassy and local police. The investigation also led to a raid on a villa in Sangkat Boeung Touk, Bokor city, Kampot province, believed to have been the victim's residence, and a base for illegal online operations. Another Chinese suspect was detained during the operation.
Currently, the three accused are in pre-trial detention at Kampot Provincial Prison pending further investigation. On Oct. 10, the Kampot Provincial Prosecutor's Office charged the three Chinese nationals and two accomplices with murder accompanied by violence and involvement in online scams.
The Ministry of Interior has prepared an official letter to the South Korean Embassy to share the investigation results and invite embassy representatives for a direct briefing from the National Police Commissioner. Cambodian authorities are committed to cooperating closely with the South Korean Embassy to facilitate all necessary procedures and are making further efforts to locate and arrest the remaining suspects and their accomplices to ensure justice is served.