Cambodia Denies Deputy PM Sar Sokha’s Ties to Jin Bei Casino

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Oct. 21, 2025) — Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior has denied allegations linking Deputy Prime Minister Sar Sokha to the Jin Bei Casino business in Sihanoukville, calling the claims politically motivated and baseless.

In a statement issued this week, the ministry said Sar Sokha, who also serves as Minister of Interior, holds no shares or connections to the casino. It condemned the reports as harmful to national institutions and damaging to the deputy prime minister’s reputation.

Sar Sokha, formerly Secretary of State during the seventh National Assembly under Prime Minister Hun Manet, has led efforts to strengthen subnational governance and combat crime, including cybercrime, human trafficking, and drug trafficking.

From January to September 2025, authorities under his leadership investigated 48 online scam cases, arrested 168 suspects, and deported 2,722 individuals.

They also handled 147 human trafficking cases, resulting in 205 arrests and the rescue of 483 victims. Drug enforcement operations led to 6,914 cases, 17,406 arrests, and the seizure of more than seven tons of narcotics and nearly 48 tons of chemical precursors.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to public safety and law enforcement, and urged the public to reject misinformation targeting senior officials.