PHNOM PENH: Phnom Penh Municipal Gendarmerie officers have arrested a male suspect who pretended to be a two-star general and someone who is in close contact with Gen. Hun Manet, in order to scam someone of US $10,000.
Phnom Penh Municipal Gendarmerie Commander, Lt. Gen. Rath Sreang, confirmed that the suspect is a man named Phorn Chanphanith, who was arrested by the Gendarmerie after receiving a complaint from the scam victim on 1 April 2023.
According to Lt. Gen. Rath Sreang, Chanphanith claimed that he was a two-star general and the right-hand man of Gen. Hun Manet, sharing a falsified image of himself standing with the General, claiming that he could help the victim enter the military framework if he was paid US $10,000.
The victim believed and trusted the man so handed over the money. Phorn Chanphanith then ask the victim to submit a personal profile, photos and other documents to complete the framework entry form. Chanphanith then passed on a fake army ID card and mission order to the victim.
Later, when the victim asked about the state unit salary and other details about the job, Chanphanith said he would have to consult his superiors first and continued to give excuses to the victim. That was when the victim realized that he had been cheated, so he filed a complaint with the Phnom Penh Municipal Gendarmerie.
A search and arrest was immediately launched, and the suspect, Phorn Chanphanith, was arrested in front of Borey Piphop Thmey Kambol 3, Thmor Da Village, Sangkat Kantouk, Khan Kambol.
According to Lt. Gen. Rath Sreang, Chanphanith is actually only a real estate agent and taxi driver.
The suspect confessed to cheating the victim of US $8,000 and forging the military framework documents.
The suspect is currently detained and his case is being processed by the Phnom Penh Municipal Gendarmerie.
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Gen. Hun Manet, had previously told authorities that if they ever see someone using his name and image to commit illegal acts, authorities should immediately follow the law and arrest without questioning.
He warned citizens to be careful of such scams and to never engage in such deception using the name or image of a leader or important figure.
