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Why Cambodia handed over Chen Zhi, accused of billion-dollar crypto scam, to China

Cambodia extradited Chen Zhi, 38, to China in response to a request from Beijing.

PHOTO: AFP/CHINA'S MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY

Sui-Lee Wee

PHNOM PENH - For years, Chen Zhi, accused of running scamming operations from Cambodia, appeared untouchable.

The 38-year-old

was naturalised as a Cambodian citizen in 2014

after he left his native China and paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to get citizenship. He became an adviser to Cambodia’s prime minister and was given the title of lord.

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Internet crimes and scams

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