U.S. sanctions put pressure on Kok An

The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned Cambodian senator Kok An and 28 people and companies tied to his network, accusing them of running scam compounds that defrauded Americans. (home.treasury.gov) Treasury said the compounds operated from casinos and office parks across Cambodia and used romance-style approaches to persuade U.S. victims to send digital assets for fake investments. (home.treasury.gov) The State Department said Americans lost at least $10 billion to scam operations in Southeast Asia in 2024, and said some workers inside these compounds were trafficking victims forced to commit fraud under threats of violence. (state.gov) The sanctions were announced alongside a Justice Department operation that charged two Chinese nationals, seized a Telegram channel used to recruit trafficking victims to Cambodia, and took down 503 fake investment websites. (justice.gov) The Justice Department said its Scam Center Strike Force has also restrained more than $700 million in cryptocurrency allegedly tied to laundering proceeds from these scams. (justice.gov) Treasury described Kok An as a senator who controls scam compounds throughout Cambodia through a business network that includes casinos, resorts and other properties. CamboJA News reported that Treasury also designated Anco Brothers, K99 Group, Xing Tian Di Co Ltd and Nan Tian International Hotel Co Ltd. (home.treasury.gov) (cambojanews.com) Kok An is a senator in the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and an adviser to former prime minister Hun Sen, according to OCCRP. OCCRP said Treasury’s package included 28 other people and entities, including two banks. (occrp.org) Cambodian officials did not signal any domestic action against him after the U.S. move. Senate spokesperson Chea Thirth told CamboJA News that Kok An has “immunity” as a member of the Senate and said questions should go to U.S. authorities. (cambojanews.com) The case lands in the middle of Phnom Penh’s public crackdown on scam compounds. OCCRP reported that Cambodian authorities raided 200 scam centers in March, repatriated nearly 10,000 foreign workers and opened 79 legal cases involving almost 700 suspects. (occrp.org) Washington has already used sanctions against another Cambodian senator, Ly Yong Phat, over alleged scam links in 2024. CamboJA News said Kok An is the latest senior Cambodian figure to face U.S. penalties as pressure shifts from compound operators to politically connected patrons. (cambojanews.com) For Kok An, the immediate effect is financial isolation: U.S.-linked property is blocked and U.S. persons are generally barred from dealing with him or listed entities. The Federal Register notice says the designations were issued on April 23. (federalregister.gov)