A new report, Official Business: Security companies and authorities at scamming compounds in Cambodia, identifies five private security firms connected to at least 23 compounds and links more than 20 military and police personnel to the industry.

“For years, survivors of these nightmarish compounds described encountering members of the Cambodian military or police inside. These accounts could not be independently verified – until now,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary general.

The investigation drew on interviews with 151 survivors conducted between January 2023 and September 2026, records concerning more than 400 additional victims, and research into 86 compounds, of which researchers visited 82. Security guards were found at every compound.

Survivors described guards preventing escapes, beating victims, administering electric shocks and detaining people in “dark rooms”. Some also reported guards standing watch while managers raped women. Most survivors interviewed said guards carried or had immediate access to electric shock batons.

Five companies were identified: Leap Somnang, linked to at least 15 compounds across eight provinces; Security Response, linked to five compounds; ZD Security, formerly BIC Security, linked to two; Dara Security, linked to two; and Best Security, linked to a compound in Bavet.

Amnesty identified links between the companies and prominent figures, including military and police officers. Leap Somnang is controlled by Ban Sophat, who publicly served as its chairman while also being a colonel in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. Deputy Police Chief Lay Channy’s phone numbers appeared on an advertisement for Best Security, while Brigadier General Tek Bunthoeun had a direct, potentially controlling interest in property development comprising a compound where abuses were documented.

Amnesty also geolocated videos from more than 200 security guards’ TikTok accounts to 23 compounds. Its analysis identified apparent active military personnel training, leading or supervising guards at three compounds.

“The evidence suggests military and police involvement in a number of scamming compounds that helps explain how abuses at these sites persisted despite years of public reporting and repeated law-enforcement operations,” Ms Callamard said.

Following a government crackdown launched in July 2025, large-scale scamming operations appear to be dormant. However, Amnesty said it was unaware of investigations into the five companies, their owners and managers, or the wider commercial and state connections documented.

Cambodian authorities said on 15 October that 77 police officers had been disciplined in connection with scamming compounds. Sophat Ban denied holding an ownership, director or management role in Leap Somnang, saying he had “served as an advisor to the company owner”. Security Response denied Amnesty’s allegations, while Best Security disputed its alleged links to Lay Channy and denied providing services at one location.

Amnesty called for independent investigations into the companies and apparent serving military and police personnel, suspension of company licences while credible allegations are investigated, and effective remedies and reparations for victims.

“Even if scamming compounds are dormant, our findings clearly show that the infrastructure of impunity has not been dismantled,” Ms Callamard concluded.