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Chen Zhi

Chen Zhi
The latest news and top stories on Chen Zhi. A Cambodian-Chinese tycoon, he is the founder and chairman of Prince Group, a multinational conglomerate. He faces indictment in a Brooklyn federal court for wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, accused of directing forced-labour scam compounds involved in cryptocurrency fraud. The US and UK have sanctioned him and the group.
Rice is steamed at high heat in preparation for fermentation, at the Pagoda Brand Winery, Shaoxing, China. Photo: Gavin Yeung
Food and Drinks

Will Dongqu redefine Shaoxing wine’s place in haute cuisine?

Forget cooking wine. One ambitious producer is betting that one of China’s oldest ferments deserves a place among the world’s great fine wines.

US-China relations

US presses China over alleged scam bosses despite growing police cooperation

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Southeast Asia forced-labour scams

China charges alleged scam kingpin Chen Zhi with intentional injury: report

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Crime

Top operative of China-born tycoon Chen Zhi extradited from Cambodia

Mainland police say Liu Ren founded group that operated multiple online gambling platforms and aggressively solicited Chinese citizens.

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Liu Ren (centre) is a central figure of a criminal group masterminded by Chinese businessman Chen Zhi. Photo: CCTV
Crime

Editorial | Hong Kong should spare no effort in fight against financial crime

The recent crackdown by law enforcement agencies from 10 jurisdictions on international scams shows the benefit of regional cooperation.

Cambodia

Cambodia raids sites linked to Chen Zhi, Chinese tycoon accused of scam empire

82 Chinese nationals among 104 people detained in Phnom Penh raids as governments around the world crack down on Chen’s scam business.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong court freezes HK$9 billion in assets and properties tied to Chen Zhi

Detained Chinese-born Cambodian businessman is accused of running sprawling online scam network from Southeast Asia.

Chen Zhi (centre) in the custody of Chinese authorities earlier this year. Photo: AFP/China’s Ministry of Public Security
China-Asean relations

China calls on Cambodia for ‘shared security and risks’ during global turmoil

Defence and foreign ministers meet in Phnom Penh after Hun Manet describes China as a ‘most important and most trustworthy good friend’.

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Cambodia

Why Cambodia’s new law may do little to combat its scam centres

Analysts warn the lack of provisions addressing the role officials and networks play in enabling scams may limit the law’s effectiveness.

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Cambodia

Opinion | To beat Cambodia’s scam gangs, US must work with China – not blame it

Taking down the deeply rooted, well-connected syndicates would require both Washington’s economic leverage and Beijing’s operational efforts.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Scams and swindles

Cambodia’s high-stakes war on online scam compounds

Cambodia has vowed to stamp out the scam compounds on its soil by month’s end – but perpetrators remain drawn to the potential for huge profits.

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Illustration: Davies Christian
Cambodia

A US$19 billion scam industry is fleeing Cambodia. Where will it end up?

Scam bosses and their multibillion-dollar crime networks are fleeing to Myanmar, Laos and Thailand ahead of an April deadline.

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Singapore

Singapore police seize US$390 million in assets in Prince Group probe

Three men, including the captain of Chen Zhi’s superyacht, have been arrested in connection with the case, police announced.

Cambodia

Cambodia’s Hun Manet admits scam hubs aided property but denies state profit

Scam centres are giving Cambodia a bad reputation, the prime minister says, vowing to wipe them out.

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is interviewed in Brussels on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
Crime in Hong Kong

HK$261 million of frozen crime funds may take 7 years to reach Hong Kong coffers

Trials and other legal procedures must first be completed before funds can be deposited into treasury, insider says.

Money seized during an operation combating money laundering is displayed at police headquarters in Wan Chai. Photo: Edmond So
China-Asean relations

Chinese missions in Vietnam, Singapore warn citizens to stay away from gambling

Consulate and embassy issue statements after two separate incidents in which Chinese men fell to their deaths, allegedly after gambling.

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Cambodia

Opinion | Cambodia’s scam factory survivors find no escape in freedom

A government crackdown freed thousands, but with no passports or support, survivors have simply traded captivity for destitution.

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SCMP Highlights

Free Disneyland tickets for helpers; Chen Zhi’s extradition: 7 highlights

From free Disneyland tickets for Hong Kong’s helpers to China’s link to Southeast Asia, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

The Li Ka Shing Foundation and the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort are providing 5,000 domestic helpers with a free visit to the theme park. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Southeast Asia forced-labour scams

Easier, faster, cheaper: how AI is revolutionising Southeast Asia’s scam hubs

Technology is enabling gangs to target more victims efficiently and expand operations as governments struggle to tackle evolving cybercrime.

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Cambodia

UK, US cybercrime cooperation ‘continues’ after Chen Zhi extradition to China

A senior Cambodian official tells SCMP that Phnom Penh is collaborating with Beijing, Washington and London in the investigations.

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Crime in China

China moves to boost cybercrime penalties by adding exit ban after sentences

Amid cross-border crackdown, draft Cybercrime Prevention and Control Law bill lists exit bans among tools to punish cybercriminals.

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A draft bill announced by China’s public security ministry aims to impose an exit ban on Chinese found guilty of cross-border online crimes for up to three years after serving their sentence. Photo: Shutterstock
China-Asean relations

Why China was so keen to get to alleged cybercrime boss Chen Zhi first

Young tycoon, who was indicted by the US in October, was extradited from Cambodia this month, accused of running a vast scam network.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
South Korea

73 South Koreans repatriated from Cambodia face online scam probe

Arriving in handcuffs, the suspects allegedly scammed fellow South Koreans out of US$33 million.

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China-Asean relations

China keeps pressure on Cambodia to target cross-border fraud and trafficking

The transnational crimes are a serious barrier to deeper cooperation, Beijing’s envoy says.

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Banking & finance

Scam, corruption cases spark Chinese debate about future of virtual money

The Chen Zhi arrest might push bitcoin prices down temporarily, but analysts said other factors will have greater sway in the long term.

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Representations of the bitcoin cryptocurrency. Illustration: Reuters
Cambodia

‘Not the end’: Cambodia keeps up scam crackdown after Chen Zhi sent to China

Phnom Penh signals zero tolerance for scam centres following the deportation of the Prince Group tycoon.

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Guards escort accused scam boss Chen Zhi off a China Southern plane in Beijing on January 8, after his extradition from Cambodia. Photo: China’s Ministry of Public Security/AFP
Scams and swindles

Editorial | Regional cooperation led to arrest of alleged scam kingpin Chen Zhi

The cross-border nature of his alleged criminal network required governments and law enforcement agencies to work together.

Prince Group

Video | China says extradited scam suspect Chen Zhi engaged in fraud

Authorities say Chen has been taken into custody under the law and the case is under further investigation.

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