By:
• Lay Sopheavotey

• November 6, 2024 , 9:50 AM

PHNOM PENH— In an ongoing high-profile deception case, additional alleged victims are filing complaints against Ly Samet, a former adviser to Senate President Hun Sen. Samet is accused of misusing his position and invoking the name of former Prime Minister Hun Sen to deceive individuals for financial gain, according to Ministry of Justice spokesperson Seng Dyna.

“The Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s Voluntary Lawyers Group has been receiving a series of complaints from the victims,” Dyna stated. However, he noted that the total number of complaints and the financial losses involved could not be disclosed, as the case remains under judicial review.

Following the release of a video in which Samet confessed to the alleged misconduct and issued an apology to Senate President Hun Sen on November 4, several victims initiated legal actions against him.

“I, Ly Samet, made serious mistakes that damaged the reputation and dignity of my boss [Hun Sen],” Samet said in his video posted on Senate President Hun Sen’s page, adding that he would not run away but would turn himself into the police but needed a short time to treat his illnesses.    

Right after the release of Samet’s video, Hun Sen issued a separate statement emphasizing that his former adviser would not receive forgiveness and would be prosecuted through the legal process, regardless of his confession.

“I wanted to emphasize that Ly Samet will not be out of legal liability because of his confession and apology video. My assistant, Doung Dara, has also been arrested and is waiting for prosecution in connection with Samet’s deceiving case,” Hun Sen wrote.

In October, Hun Sen urged the Justice Ministry to work with authorities to prosecute two individuals involved in a scam. He encouraged victims to file complaints with his team of volunteer lawyers.

Samet was later arrested and taken from Sihanoukville to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police on November 5, as confirmed by Sam Vicheka, spokesman for the Municipal Police.

He was sent to court on November 5 for further legal action. However, Vicheka could not provide more details or comment on the charges against the suspect.

Plang Sophal, a Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman, declined to comment on Samet's case and referred the questions to Ei Rin, another spokesperson for the Court. Similarly, Ei Rin could not provide further information as the case was still being investigated.

Samet and Duong Dara, a personal assistant to Hun Sen, were accused of using the former prime minister’s name to deceive individuals into paying money in exchange for government positions and royal titles.

One of the deception victims included dismissed Lvea Aem district Governor Korn Sok Kay, who allegedly gave Samet $300,000 as a bribe, as he sought the position of Kandal’s Arey Ksat City Governor.