Cambodia Investigating Deng Pibing as Long Bay Site Remains Under Investigation

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 13, 2026: Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, Head of the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Online Scams (CCOS), has confirmed that Cambodian authorities are investigating Deng Pibing over suspected activities linked to the Long Bay development in Koh Kong province, and that the site remains under investigation and strict control.

In a statement responding to the Al Jazeera investigative documentary "101 East," which aired on Oct. 10, 2026, Chhay Sinarith said Cambodian authorities had not allowed the Long Bay site to operate as a base for technology-based scam activities.

Background to the investigation

In February 2026, authorities discovered several buildings within the Long Bay compound suspected of being linked to online scam operations. The suspected criminal groups had fled the site, leaving behind evidence believed to be connected to such activities.

Koh Kong provincial authorities detained several suspects, seized evidence for further investigation, and sealed off the site, which remains under investigation and strict control.

On Sept. 5, 2026, Prime Minister Hun Manet personally visited locations under authorities' control in Koh Kong province to inspect progress and instructed relevant authorities to maintain strict control over the sites and evidence and conduct thorough investigations.

Deng Pibing's status remains under investigation

Regarding Deng Pibing, the founder of ZhengHeng Group, which developed Long Bay as a tourism and infrastructure project within the Dara Sakor concession, Chhay Sinarith said Cambodian authorities were continuing their investigations into the case. No conclusion has been reached.

According to the General Department of Immigration, Deng Pibing left Cambodia in late May 2026. Information from specialised sources also indicated that Deng Pibing was subject to an Interpol Red Notice. However, Chhay Sinarith noted that the Red Notice information has not been independently verified, and the requesting country and specific charges remain unclear.

Government's firm stance

Chhay Sinarith reaffirmed that the Cambodian government and the CCOS would continue to enforce the law firmly to crack down on and eliminate online scam activities. He said the national campaign against online scams had taken legal action against suspected operations, including raids on locations, judicial prosecution of those involved, and ongoing investigations into numerous cases before the courts.

The government has pledged to continue strict law enforcement against scam operations, prosecute ringleaders and accomplices, and freeze criminals' assets.

Public concern over national reputation

The case has drawn significant public attention in Cambodia, with many citizens expressing concern about the damage such allegations cause to the country's international reputation. Voices across social media and civil society have called for a thorough cleanup of scam operations and for decisive action to restore confidence in Cambodia's image abroad.

The sentiment reflects growing public awareness that transnational scam networks not only harm victims but also tarnish the Kingdom's standing among investors, tourists and international partners — a concern that has been raised repeatedly in regional forums and by foreign governments.

Al Jazeera documentary and Interior Ministry response

The Al Jazeera investigation, a 24-minute documentary titled "Exposing an alleged crime kingpin's Cambodian empire," presented allegations of online scam operations, drug use and corruption at Long Bay. The documentary included undercover footage and statements involving Deng Pibing, Cambodian entrepreneurs and officials.

Interior Ministry spokesman Touch Sokha said the Dara Sakor compound featured in the investigation had already been raided and completely shut down by Cambodian law enforcement authorities.

Touch Sokha also addressed claims made by Deng Pibing in the documentary about distributing money to secure stability and protection for his business, suggesting they could be attempts to boast about his influence and powerful connections to impress his guests, who were undercover journalists.

He stated that any profit-sharing arrangement between private individuals and government officials, if proven, would constitute an illegal act rather than an arrangement authorised or endorsed by a public institution. "No public institution engages in sharing profits from improper activities or distributing benefits with private individuals," he said.

Regarding footage showing vehicles bearing police licence plates and insignia, Touch Sokha maintained that no state institution permits government vehicles to be used for private interests. He noted that in some cases, privately owned vehicles may be modified or fitted with counterfeit licence plates and government insignia to create the impression that they belong to state institutions or have received official authorisation.

Investigation ongoing

Chhay Sinarith said the investigation into Deng Pibing and the Long Bay site remains ongoing, with several suspects detained and evidence seized for further investigation. The site remains sealed and under strict control as authorities continue their inquiries. No findings have been finalised, and no conclusion has been reached.

Reported by The Khmer Today