Photo shows Chen Zhi is the chairman of the Prince Holding. Photo from Prince Bank
By: Sao Phal Niseiy
January 7, 2026, 10:40 PM
PHNOM PENH— Cambodian authorities have arrested and extradited Chen Zhi, the founder and chairman of Prince Group who is under United States sanctions, at the request of Chinese authorities, in what the Interior Ministry described as an effort to combat transnational crime.
In an official statement issued on January 7, the ministry said Chen Zhi was arrested and extradited to China, along with two other Chinese nationals, Xu Ji Liang and Shao Ji Hui.
“This operation was carried out on 6 January 2026, following several months of joint investigative cooperation between the relevant authorities of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the People’s Republic of China,” the statement said.
The ministry added that Chen Zhi’s Cambodian citizenship had been revoked by royal decree in December 2025, in accordance with Cambodia’s Law on Nationality.
Chen Zhi’s arrest and extradition came a few months after the United States and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on him and his conglomerate, Prince Group, in October.
Following the announcement of those sanctions, Cambodian authorities pledged to cooperate fully with the United States and the United Kingdom, guided by law and evidence, to address cyber scam operations.
At the time, Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak said Chen Zhi was no different from other businesspeople investing in Cambodia and was required to comply with the country’s laws and regulations. He said Cambodia welcomes investors who meet legal requirements.
“It’s beyond our capacity to predict certain actions that certain individuals will do,” Sokhak said. “But we always stand by the laws and adhere to existing legal criteria before allowing anyone to carry out certain activities in the country.”
Sokhak added that Cambodia hoped accusations made by the United States and the United Kingdom were supported by sufficient evidence and grounded in international law.
“Cambodia will cooperate based on the law, sufficient evidence, and international law. We will not protect outlaws or stand behind those who break the law,” he said.
The US Treasury and the UK Foreign Office described the sanctions as the largest action ever taken against a cyber fraud network in Southeast Asia, targeting operations linked to Cambodia and Myanmar.
The US Treasury accused Chen Zhi of operating a criminal enterprise through online investment scams targeting Americans and victims worldwide and of laundering proceeds through a complex web of more than 100 global shell and holding companies.
In November, Prince Group rejected the allegations against the company and its chairman, calling them baseless and politically motivated. The company said the accusations appeared intended to justify the unlawful seizure of assets worth billions of dollars.
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