Cambodia arrests two men over protests for frozen Huione Group funds
Two Cambodian men have been arrested for organising protests over frozen accounts linked to Huione Group. Suon Sovanthai and Vath Makara were detained outside the National Bank of Cambodia on Monday. They now face charges of inciting unrest and blocking public traffic.
The demonstrations centred on H-Pay, Huione’s digital payment platform, which users claim has held their funds since December. Protesters insist they are not connected to the company’s alleged crimes but simply want access to their money. The two men set up a Telegram group with 1,200 alleged Huione account holders to coordinate the protests. Participants were reportedly paid 25,000 riel (around six dollars) each to join the demonstrations.
Huione has been under scrutiny for months. The US government accused the firm of laundering money for transnational criminal networks involved in cyberscams. In April, Huione’s former chairman, Li Xiong, was extradited to China over his alleged role in a major gambling and fraud operation.
Cambodia’s National Bank has since revoked Huione’s business licences. Authorities advised affected creditors to seek legal action through the courts or a liquidator. Despite this, protesters continue to demand the release of their frozen funds.
The arrests of Sovanthai and Makara follow their involvement in Monday’s protest. Both now face legal proceedings for their roles in the unrest and traffic disruption. The case highlights ongoing tensions between Huione’s former users and Cambodian authorities. With the company’s licences revoked, account holders have been directed to pursue claims through legal channels. The outcome of the men’s trial could set a precedent for further protests over the frozen assets.
