Bangkok: The Thai Embassy is actively engaging with the United States to address the seizure of assets belonging to associates of Hun Sen, as well as a transnational crime network. This initiative is part of a broader investigation into potential links between these assets and crimes committed in Thailand.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapol Prembut, Commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), detailed the procedural steps following the US Department of Justice’s confiscation of Bitcoin tied to Chen Zhi, also known as Vincent. Chen, a British-Cambodian Chinese immigrant, faces accusations of conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering and is associated with the Prince Group, a multinational business headquartered in Cambodia. The TCSD is preparing to collaborate with US authorities to discuss the asset seizure and determine the conclusion of the legal process. Should a link to Thai crimes be established, the assets will be reclaimed through diplomatic channels due to the complexity of international legal proceedings.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapol also addressed the Thai police’s approach to aiding human trafficking victims duped into participating in scams, contrasting it with South Korea’s immediate deployment of a special team to assist their nationals in Cambodia. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has set up a committee to tackle this issue, with a meeting expected to formulate a response strategy.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Chatchapanthakarn Klayklueng, Deputy Commissioner of the TCSD, announced that TCSD officers convened a policy meeting focusing on the urgent suppression of call centers. This aligns with governmental directives, and the TCSD intends to continue its coordination with international partners and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE). The Deputy Commissioner noted that many victims are ensnared by fraudulent job offers leading them into call center networks.
Additionally, authorities are tasked with swiftly shutting down online gambling platforms. Reports indicate that Mr. Hun Sen’s family might be conducting business in Thailand, raising concerns about potential money laundering activities. Police are vigilantly monitoring these developments and are poised to take necessary actions.