ST contacted Cambodian Ministry of Interior spokesman Touch Sokhak, who declined to say if Su Wenqiang and Wang Baosen will be detained in Cambodia and sent back to China.
He said the government would examine the facts and make a decision “based on legal aspects”.
In an interview with The Phnom Penh Post, two days after the two men were deported to Cambodia, Mr Sokhak said the government will not shield individuals who break the law, whether in their home country or abroad.
“They must be punished according to the court’s decision. We do not provide protection for criminals who violate national or international laws. Cambodia is governed by the rule of law.
“This means we must respect the laws of the kingdom, as well as the laws of friendly countries,” he added.
Mr Jacob Sims, a visiting expert at the United States Institute of Peace, said that while China clearly wields significant influence over Cambodia both politically and economically, it is not a foregone conclusion that Cambodia will “bow to Beijing on issues of well-connected criminals”.
“It all depends on how badly (or if) China wants them and, equally important, how influential they are in Cambodia’s political-criminal landscape,” he said, adding that Cambodian passports have offered criminals a safe haven for continued criminal activity.
He highlighted the case of Cambodian national She Zhijiang, a China-born gambling kingpin who ran casinos in Cambodia and the Philippines, and operated a firm which ran online gambling houses and scam centres in Myanmar.
She was arrested in August 2022 in Thailand, where he remains in custody. He has been fighting deportation to China on citizenship grounds, arguing that he is no longer a Chinese citizen.
“She is one of the most notorious criminals in the region and likely awaits harsh penalties if extradited to China. Throughout his detention in Thailand, he has lobbied consistently and publicly for deportation to Cambodia.
“He wouldn’t be doing this if he thought he’d then immediately be handed over to the Chinese. For years, She ran vast, lucrative Cambodia-based criminal operations with impunity.
“He was wanted by China during much of this time. She is also not alone,” added Mr Sims.
