The Cambodia Daily
27-5-2025
Cambodia observers say the recent arrest of former tycoon Heng Sithy offers a glaring reminder that anyone who dares to challenge the interests of the powerful Hun family will not be spared, regardless of how high they may rise.
Men Nath, head of the Cambodia Watchdog Council, posted on his Facebook page yesterday that Heng Sithy’s arrest was not solely about criminal allegations. According to Nath, the former tycoon was detained for exposing a vast criminal network linked to Hun To, the nephew of former Prime Minister Hun Sen. The accusations include online scams, extortion, money laundering, and systemic corruption involving senior government officials such as Sar Sokha, Sar Thet, and Kouch Chamroeun. Nath claims these individuals have longstanding ties to Chinese mafia operations.
He added that the Hun family’s actions in this case reflect a broader pattern: those who serve the regime’s interests are protected from prosecution, regardless of their misconduct. He cited the example of suspects Ly Rattanak Rasmey and Pech Kim Sren, who are allegedly involved in the assassination of former Cambodian lawmaker Lim Kim-Ya. Although the Thai judiciary has requested their extradition, the Hun-led government has taken no action for over five months, even though both men are widely known to be living in Cambodia.
Men Nath has called on the Cambodian government to cooperate with Thai authorities and hand over the suspects to face justice. He emphasized that doing so would uphold the rights of victims’ families and help repair Cambodia’s international reputation, which continues to be undermined by perceptions of impunity and authoritarian control.
Former tycoon Heng Sithy was arrested in Russia in mid-January 2025 and extradited to Cambodia on May 24. His arrest followed a series of explosive allegations he made about corrupt dealings and criminal activities allegedly involving members of the Hun family and high-ranking Cambodian officials. Before his arrest, Sithy had announced plans to form a new political party and urged the public to join his movement to end the Hun family’s hold on power.
Several political analysts believe Sithy’s extradition from Russia was likely facilitated by Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, a close ally of Hun Sen and a seasoned diplomat known for managing Cambodia’s foreign relations.
