Private security companies linked to Cambodia’s military, police and powerful business networks helped operate scam compounds where trafficked workers were subjected to forced labour, torture, sexual violence and slavery, Amnesty International said in a report published on Thursday.
The report, titled “Official Business: Security companies and authorities at scamming compounds in Cambodia”, identifies five private security companies that provided services at scam compounds and documents their links to military and police personnel and prominent business figures.
Amnesty said it identified more than 20 military and police personnel who worked as security guards, trained guards or supervised security operations at at least 22 compounds.
“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, conducted between January 2023 and September 2026, included interviews with 151 survivors and a review of records concerning more than 400 other victims. Researchers identified 86 compounds and visited 82 of them, finding security guards at every site.
Survivors described guards preventing them from escaping, beating those who attempted to flee and administering electric shocks. Some also reported being detained in dark rooms, while guards stood watch as compound managers raped women.
At Park 8, also known as PV01, a Cameroonian woman identified as Maia told Amnesty that guards restrained her upon arrival before taking her to a dark room, where managers raped her while guards waited outside.
Another survivor, a Ugandan man identified as Gabe, said he was chained above basins of water, beaten for hours and shocked with an electric baton.
Most survivors interviewed said guards carried or had immediate access to electric shock batons, while several reported seeing guards or others carrying firearms.
Five security companies identified
Amnesty identified five private security companies linked to at least 23 scam compounds where serious human rights abuses were documented.
Leap Somnang had the largest presence, with links to at least 15 compounds across eight provinces. Twelve survivors identified its guards, uniforms or logo, describing how they were prevented from leaving under threats of violence. Some also reported beatings, electric shocks and prolonged isolation.
Security Response, which Amnesty linked to the Panda Bank and Huione corporate network, was associated with five compounds, including Park 8.
ZD Security, formerly known as BIC Security, was linked to two compounds in Botum Sakor, including Long Bay, where survivors reported torture, forced labour and unlawful confinement.
Dara Security was linked to two compounds in Sihanoukville, while Best Security was associated with a compound in Bavet where Amnesty documented human trafficking, forced labour and child labour.
The report also identified connections between the companies and senior military and police figures.
Ban Sophat, who publicly served as chairman of Leap Somnang, was also a colonel in the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. Amnesty said the phone number of Deputy Police Chief Lay Channy appeared in an advertisement for Best Security. Channy was involved in a crackdown in Bavet, where the company guarded a compound.
Brigadier General Tek Bunthoeun was also found to have a direct and potentially controlling interest in a property development that included the BM02 compound, where Amnesty documented torture, confinement and forced labour.
The organisation also identified business connections involving other prominent figures, including a former bank chief executive, a property developer and the son of a former deputy prime minister. However, it did not establish their personal responsibility for the abuses.
Companies and officials respond
Amnesty said it contacted the companies and individuals named in the report and included their responses in the publication.
Ban Sophat denied having any ownership, director or management role in Leap Somnang, saying he had served as an adviser to the company’s owner.
Best Security denied that Lay Channy had control over the company, although it acknowledged that his phone number appeared on a company sign. It also denied providing services at one of the locations identified by Amnesty and said it would consider legal action over the alleged unauthorised use of its uniform.
Security Response denied all allegations in the report.
Call for investigations
Amnesty said large-scale scam compound operations appeared to be dormant following a Cambodian government crackdown launched in July 2025. However, it said it was unaware of investigations into the five security companies, their owners and managers, or the wider business and state connections documented.
Cambodian authorities told Amnesty on 15 October that 77 police officers had been disciplined in connection with scam compounds.
The organisation called on the government to launch independent investigations into the security companies and military and police personnel allegedly involved, suspend company licences while credible allegations are investigated, and ensure victims receive compensation and effective remedies.
“Even if scamming compounds are dormant at the time of publishing this report, our findings clearly show that the infrastructure of impunity has not been dismantled,” Callamard said.
