Authorities have arrested oknha Hy Kimhong — and 13 bodyguards in Phnom Penh who tried to protect him — over a fraudulent land investment scheme that ensnared hundreds of Kampot residents, according to local media reports.

Hy Kimhong, owner of Piphup Deimeas Investment, faced complaints from 323 people who alleged the company failed to pay returns on $6 million of investment in land. Provincial police summoned the oknha and another businessman, oknha Cheng Sanghak, for questioning, according to local newspaper Koh Santepheap.

On June 26, the two oknha sent representatives to negotiate with 500 people. But on August 7, Hy Kimhong was arrested in Phnom Penh for alleged land fraud, Koh Santepheap said.

Thirteen bodyguards were also taken into custody for blocking authorities and using violence against them.

The land investment project is located in Trach Tong commune in Kampong Speu’s Oudong district, according to an advertisement on a Piphup Deimeas Facebook page.

Hy Kimhong was promoted to be an adviser to National Assembly president Heng Samrin with a rank equivalent to secretary of state on February 16. He received his oknha title last year, on October 21, according to Kamnotra records. His associate, Cheng Sanghak, was made oknha on August 18, 2022.

The Commerce Ministry lists Hy Kimhong, with an address in Pur Senchey, as director of the Piphup Deimeas Group as well as AMZ Microfinance Institution and five other companies.

Update (August 10): The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Thursday, August 10 charged Hy Kimhong with fraud under Article 380 and his bodyguards with aggravated intentional violence under Article 218, according to pro-government Fresh News. According to the Criminal Code, both fraud and aggravated violence are punishable by two to five years in prison.