Key facts
- Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Sokha has hired two U.S. law firms, Seiden Law and Nelson Mullins.
- The contracts are valued at $285,000.
- The legal efforts aim to remove Sokha from a U.S. congressional bill that proposes sanctions on individuals linked to scam operations.
- The bill also names other Cambodian officials and Hun To, a cousin of Prime Minister Hun Manet.
- Allegations against Sokha are linked to his past role as co-director of Jinbei Investment with Chen Zhi, who was sanctioned by the U.S. and U.K.
- Sokha denies any involvement in scam operations and describes his past contact with Chen Zhi as a normal social relationship.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Sokha has retained two U.S. law firms, Seiden Law and Nelson Mullins, for a combined $285,000 to counter potential U.S. sanctions. The move comes as Sokha faces inclusion in a U.S. congressional bill that proposes sanctions on individuals allegedly linked to global scam operations that victimize Americans.
According to filings with the U.S. Justice Department, the agreements were signed in May and disclosed on June 1. Seiden Law will focus on communications with the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and a congressional committee reviewing the legislation. Nelson Mullins will advise Sokha on diplomatic activities in the United States through July, including outreach to Congress, the administration, and media.
Sokha denies any involvement in scam operations. Interior Ministry spokesperson Touch Sokhak stated that the lawyers were hired to protect Sokha, the ministry, and Cambodia's reputation from what he called slanderous accusations that have threatened Sokha's safety and that of his family. He described Sokha's past contact with Chen Zhi, founder of the Prince Group, as a normal social relationship.
The allegations against Sokha stem from his previous role as co-director of Jinbei Investment with Chen Zhi. Washington and Britain sanctioned Chen and Prince Group last year, accusing them of involvement in scam operations, money laundering, and human trafficking. Chen has since been extradited to China.
The proposed U.S. bill also names several other Cambodian officials and Hun To, a cousin of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, for possible sanctions. Sokha, who succeeded his father as minister in 2023, now leads Cambodia's campaign against online fraud and human trafficking amid international pressure.