Cambodian visa scandal nets $3m, says ACU

Cambodia’s Anti‑Corruption Unit (ACU) has accused a senior Foreign Affairs Ministry advisor and two associates of selling more than 12,000 visas, generating illicit proceeds of over $3 million.

In a statement released on 29 August, the ACU alleged that Tho Samnang, Director General of the General Department of Consular and Border Affairs, colluded with officer Nop Ratha and contracted worker Yos Ranae to misappropriate Type C and CEX visa stickers. These visas, meant as “courtesy” permits for eligible applicants such as NGO staff, were instead sold to foreign nationals, including online scammers.

Millions laundered

Investigators say Samnang alone held 375 bank accounts across seven banks. The ACU claims to have intercepted $980,000 linked to him and $250,000 tied to Ratha, with court orders sought to freeze and confiscate the funds. Samnang initially admitted selling visas for as little as $5, but later confessed to charging up to $6,000 each.

The trio now face multiple charges under Cambodia’s Criminal Code, Anti‑Corruption Law and Anti‑Money Laundering Law. If convicted, they could receive prison sentences of five to ten years.

A wider crackdown

The case comes amid a broader campaign against officials accused of colluding with scam operators. The ACU says thousands of irregular visas were detected during audits, with Samnang admitting to stealing more than 11,000 visa stickers between late 2025 and early 2026.

Despite being demoted twice — first stripped of management authority, then reassigned as an advisor — Samnang allegedly continued selling visas. His family reported him missing on 19 August, shortly before the ACU’s latest revelations.

Systemic concerns

The scandal highlights vulnerabilities in Cambodia’s visa system at a time when authorities are intensifying raids on scam compounds and foreign workers fleeing illegal operations. The General Department of Immigration has also flagged irregularities, passing evidence to the ACU.

For the government, the case underscores how corruption within official channels can feed transnational crime. As ACU spokesman Soy Chanvichet noted, courtesy visas are intended to support legitimate applicants — not to be traded for profit.

The investigation is ongoing, with prosecutors expected to pursue further charges. For Cambodia’s embattled institutions, the scandal is a stark reminder of the scale of graft undermining state authority.

-2026-08-31