PHNOM PENH – Businessman Heng Sithy who has sparked controversy recently for his allegation of corruption and illegal activities by government officials has been arrested at the Russian border.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak said Russian police arrested Heng Sithy a few days ago at a request of Cambodia. 

He will be sent back to the country for legal procedures but the date is unknown. Cambodian and Russian embassy teams are making the preparations. 

“He attacks the leaders, tarnishing the country’s images and causing misunderstanding of the country as a hub for online fraud, impacting its international politics, economy, and tourism,” Sokhak said.

His arrest warrant was issued on Dec. 3, charging him under Articles 372 and 374 of the Criminal Code with blackmail and aggravating circumstances by making threats.

Heng Sithy had his honorific ohkna title revoked in December, 2024.. He has been active recently in exposing alleged corruption commited by many high-ranking officials and Chinese and Cambodian business people. His passport was nullified on Jan. 8.

He accused the former governor Preah Sihanouk province Kuoch Chamroeun, now Kandal governor, of receiving $150 million in corruption for protecting online gambling criminals in the province.

He even filed a complaint to the Anti-Corruption Unit. Kuoch Chamroeun later denied receiving money and a form of cryptocurrency, promising to donate such money to Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital if found.

Later, Heng Sithy lodged a complaint against Interior Minister Sar Sokha, National Police General Commissioner Sar Thet, and Interior Secretary of State Sok Phal  for alleged criminal aid and corruption. He claimed he did it on behalf of more than 700 police.

Sar Sokha is accused of corruption, accepting bribes, oppressing lower-level officials in all general departments to make money for him, and failing to crack down on online gambling, and protecting criminals.

Sar Thet was accused of receiving a $5 million bribe from Cambodia-Singaporean businessman Phua Gek Seng, also known as “Tak,” in exchange for protecting online crime centers, kidnapping people, and forcing people to work illegally.

The Interior Ministry denied the allegation, condemning Heng Sithy for incitement aiming to cause public discrimination and break the internal unity of the ministry.

Heng Sethy filed a complaint with  Chinese national Sun RuiFeng, alleging that Senate President Hun Sen’s nephew, Hun To, received $9 million from Sun RuiFeng for processing a gold mining business license application. 

He said Hun To failed to complete a license for a Chinese national and kidnapped him, leading to Sun RuiFeng claiming it was a fake complaint.

Following these complaints, the Ministry of Justice said Heng Sithy's social media complaint letters are just information for review and analysis, not an official complaint that must be handled according to procedure.

Touch Sokhak of the Interior Ministry said he left the further procedures for the expert team and the court to process their work, saying Heng Sithy could face many charges.

In another case of detention in a foreign country, former Phnom Penh police commissioner Heng Pov was arrested in Singapore in 2006 and charged with serious crimes, including violence and killings.  He is now in Cambodia serving 100 years in prison.