Cambodia! Temporary detention for Cameroonian conman 2025.4.4-4.4

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s investigating judge, Mr. Ang Chenda, has issued a temporary detention order for a serial Cameroonian criminal – who extorted nearly $200,000 from a foreign woman.

The arrest warrant states that the Cameroonian is being held on charges of “illegal confinement, fraud, and failure to appear in court after conviction for a misdemeanor.”

The order comes after the Tourism Police Department of the National Police General Directorate arrested the Cameroonian after he extorted nearly $200,000 from a Laotian woman and are now searching for his accomplices.

According to a report from the Tourism Police Department, the case of fraud and extortion occurred on March 26, 2025 in Sangkat Phsar Thmey 3, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh, at the Poulo Wai Hotel & Apartment,

The victim has been named as NOUTTHAVONG KHOUN, a 37-year-old Laotian woman.

The perpetrator arrested by the police is ASHU GEORGE EBOT, a Cameroonian.

The Tourism Police Department report said that on March 24, 2025, the Lao woman gave $100,000 in cash to the man, whom the victim claimed was her boyfriend, and his family to buy two cars at the POULO WAI HOTEL & APARTMENT, Sangkat Phsar Thmey 3, Khan Daun Penh.

After receiving the money, the victim tried to contact her boyfriend again, but was unable to reach him.

Later, a man named MIMBANG ROMEO AYUK, 37 years old, from Cameroon, contacted the victim, saying that her boyfriend had been arrested by the police and told the victim to find a ransom of $70,000 to rescue her boyfriend from the police.

The victim replied that she did not have $70,000.

Suddenly, suspect, MIMBANG ROMEO AYUK, demanded $50,000 from the victim by sending her a picture of her boyfriend in handcuffs on social media (Telegram).

In reality, the criminals fabricated the whole story that her boyfriend was arrested by handcuffing her boyfriend just to deceive her.

Then, the suspect named MIMBANG ROMEO AYUK arranged for the victim to meet him to hand over the money by having the suspect named ASHU GEORGE EBOT come and collect the money on behalf of MIMBANG ROMEO AYUK at the Phnom Meas Music Restaurant, 99, Street 430, Corner 502, Sangkat Phsar Deum Thkov, Khan Chamkar Mon, Phnom Penh.

He was arrested by the police under the orders of General Sar Thet, Commissioner-General of the National Police, and Lieutenant General Run Rath Veasna, Director of the Tourism Police Department, as well as with the coordination of Mr. Chreung Khmao, Prosecutor Attached to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

The offender was arrested by the Tourism Police Department and sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for legal action on April 3, 2025.

The criminal was arrested once before by the military police on November 30, 2020, after receiving a complaint from a victim for “aggravating fraud and theft and threatening to take money” in Chroy Changvar District, involving approximately $350,000, but the victim sent them nearly $300,000.

However, after serving 1 year and 6 months in prison, Mr. Say Nora, Deputy Prosecutor of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, issued an order to release him on June 16, 2022.