Businesses and visitors in the Bassac Lane neighborhood have been targeted by a fake newspaper gang.

[ASEAN NOW]

 

Business owners on Phnom Penh's Street 308, which is home to Bassac Lane, are outraged because they believe they are being targeted by a fake news gang posing as journalists and demanding money in exchange for not being included in a report accusing them of breaking limitation laws.

 

“If business wasn't hard enough amid the lockdown restrictions and alcohol ban, it is even harder now as we are being plagued by a gang of extortionists asking for money in exchange for not being mentioned in their ‘newspaper' or having a bad review written about us,” one manager in the well-known hospitality area told Khmer Times yesterday.

 

“I've denied multiple attempts to extort money from us, and each time they've gone, threatening to contact the cops, mention us in a newspaper, or write a negative review about us. He stated, "We are not the only business on the block that has been affected by this."

“They also shout at passers-by that our clubs are girly bars that hire ladies to men,” says the woman.

 

“The restrictions have had a significant impact on our company. Our revenue has decreased by 60% as a result of the alcohol ban. Now there's another issue to add to the difficulties.”

 

“They always come and try to ask for money and lie by stating we sell alcohol,” another company on Street 308 claimed. When we decline, they broadcast live on Facebook about how we have more than 15 clients [the legal limit] and sell alcohol. This isn't the case at all.”

 

The gang allegedly demanded anything from $10 to crates of beer in exchange for them not publishing bogus information on social media for the past two weekends on both evenings.

 

In an already ailing hospitality industry, the government has decided to extend the lockdown restrictions for another 14 days.

 

“Surely this must feel like kicking a business when it's down,” one observer observed, “with many pubs and restaurants having to close their doors forever due to not being able to afford rent and expenses due to lack of clients and not being able to sell alcohol for months.”

 

Other hospitality firms, on the other hand, are springing up in the area in the hopes of restoring the town's robust economy.

 

Another pub owner in Daun Penh stated he hasn't been approached by bogus journalists, so it appears that this is a problem that is targeting Tonle Bassac especially.