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Cambodia: 400+ Scholarships Canceled After Fraud Suspect's Arrest; Govt Steps In

Cambodia: 400+ Scholarships Canceled After Fraud Suspect's Arrest; Govt Steps In

MGR OnlineInternational21h ago

Reader Briefing

Cambodia's government has pledged to cover university tuition for over 400 students after their scholarships, funded by alleged cybercrime kingpin Chen Zhi, were abruptly canceled following his arrest and deportation.

  • •Over 400 scholarships in Cambodia, funded by businessman Chen Zhi, were suddenly canceled.
  • •Chen Zhi was arrested and deported from Cambodia to China on allegations of running multi-billion dollar cyber fraud.
  • •The Cambodian Ministry of Education has promised to cover the tuition fees for the affected students.
  • •Chen Zhi's company, Prince Group, and its associated bank are facing sanctions and liquidation proceedings.

Overview

  • •On an unspecified date in October 2025, US authorities charged Chen Zhi with fraud and money laundering.
  • •In December 2025, Chen Zhi was deported from Cambodia to China.
  • •In December 2025, over 400 scholarships provided by Chen Zhi/Prince Group were abruptly canceled.
  • •The scholarships were canceled due to the arrest and deportation of Chen Zhi, who is accused of running a cross-border cybercrime network.
  • •The Cambodian Ministry of Education announced it would take responsibility for the tuition fees of the 418 affected students.
  • •Cambodian students who relied on the scholarships will continue their studies without financial interruption.
  • •In December 2025, Cambodian authorities froze five luxury properties belonging to Prince Group.
  • •Prince Bank, sanctioned by the US, was ordered into liquidation proceedings.

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Key Quotes

Narath
"They said their company was having problems."
พวกเขาบอกว่าบริษัทของพวกเขามีปัญหา
Khuon Vicheka
"We will not leave them behind."
เราจะไม่ทิ้งพวกเขาไว้ข้างหลัง
Narath
"I think he wanted to launder money through education so people wouldn't suspect him."
ผมคิดว่าเขาต้องการฟอกเงินผ่านการศึกษา เพราะคนจะได้ไม่สงสัยในตัวเขา
21-year-old IT student
"If he (Chen Zhi) really committed the alleged crimes, he should be prosecuted."
หากเขา (เฉินจื้อ) ทำความผิดตามที่ถูกกล่าวหาจริง เขาควรถูกดำเนินคดี

Key Entities

Person

Chen Zhi(เฉินจื้อ)ℹ️
A wealthy and influential businessman accused of leading a multi-billion dollar cyber fraud ring, whose scholarships for Cambodian students were canceled after his arrest.
Khuon Vicheka(ควน วิเชกา)ℹ️
A spokesperson for the Cambodian Ministry of Education who confirmed the ministry's commitment to supporting the affected students.

Place

Cambodia(กัมพูชา)ℹ️
The country where over 400 scholarships were canceled and where businessman Chen Zhi was arrested and deported.
US(สหรัฐฯ)ℹ️
The country that charged Chen Zhi with fraud and money laundering and sanctioned Prince Bank.

Organization

Prince Group(ปรินซ์ กรุ๊ป)ℹ️
The company founded by Chen Zhi, which allegedly served as a front for a transnational cybercrime network and funded scholarships for Cambodian students.
Phnom Penh University (RUPP)(มหาวิทยาลัยพนมเปญ)ℹ️
The university where students were affected by the sudden cancellation of scholarships funded by Prince Group.
Ministry of Education(กระทรวงศึกษาธิการ)ℹ️
The government body in Cambodia that pledged to cover the tuition fees for students whose scholarships were canceled.
Prince Bank(ธนาคารปรินซ์)ℹ️
A bank linked to Chen Zhi's Prince Group that has been sanctioned by the US and ordered into liquidation.