Cambodian minister spends $285k to fight US bill

Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha has hired two US law firms at a cost of $285,000 to lobby against his inclusion in a draft American bill targeting foreign scam networks.

Sokha, who also serves as Interior Minister, signed contracts with Seiden Law in New York and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in May. Both firms filed disclosures under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, confirming they would represent him in dealings with the US Treasury and congressional committees.

The move comes after Sokha was named in the draft House Bill 5490 – the “Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act”. If passed, the legislation would allow the US President to impose sanctions under laws targeting human rights abuses, trafficking and transnational crime. Sokha has not been sanctioned by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, but his spokesman said he was acting to protect his reputation against “incomplete information”.

Sokha previously sat on the board of Jinbei (Cambodia) Investment alongside Chen Zhi, a Chinese‑Cambodian businessman sanctioned last year for alleged links to cybercrime. While Sokha insists he had no role in Jinbei’s casino operations in Sihanoukville, US lawmakers have described Chen Zhi as a “criminal patron” in Cambodia’s scam economy.

Other Cambodian officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun, were also named in the draft bill. Analysts warn the scrutiny reflects Washington’s growing focus on Cambodia’s role in regional cybercrime networks.

Ou Virak, founder of the Future Forum think tank, said the case underscores the need for Cambodia to show it is serious about dismantling scam operations. “Recovery of our reputation depends largely on a systematic crackdown and a willingness to prosecute our own officials if evidence is available,” he noted.

The contracts reveal Sokha will pay Seiden Law $150,000 and Nelson Mullins $135,000 in instalments. Nelson Mullins is tasked with supporting his “diplomatic activities” in the US, though the scope of work remains vague.

As Cambodia faces mounting international pressure to tackle cybercrime, Sokha’s lobbying effort highlights the growing intersection of domestic politics and Washington’s campaign against transnational scams.

-2026-06-15