BANGKOK – In a decisive move against transnational crime, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has signed an order revoking the Thai citizenship of Cambodian senator Ly Yong Phat. The order, issued under the 1965 Nationality Act, follows investigations linking the prominent businessman, also known as Phat Suphapa, to international scam and call-center operations.

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The revocation comes after coordinated investigations by the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the Department of Consar Affairs revealed that Ly Yong Phat had maintained his Cambodian citizenship while holding Thai nationality. Authorities established connections between the senator and criminal networks engaged in large-scale fraud, human trafficking, and cybercrime. The case had previously drawn international attention when the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on Ly Yong Phat for alleged involvement in human trafficking and online fraud, leading to the freezing of related assets including more than 70 million baht.

Thailand’s government has stripped a senior Cambodian businessman of citizenship over alleged involvement in cyber scams and human trafficking. pic.twitter.com/i7t18t6JrE

— Tyler Scott (@scott_tyler7) October 24, 2025

The Ministry of Interior ruled that his conduct represented a clear threat to national security and public order, meeting the legal grounds for citizenship revocation under specific provisions of the Nationality Act. The order emphasized that immediate enforcement was necessary to protect public and state interests.

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Ly Yong Phat, who had acquired Thai nationality through naturalization, serves as a sitting Cambodian senator and maintains extensive business interests. The Interior Ministry formally issued and published the revocation order today, making it effective as of October 24, 2025. This action represents one of the most significant applications of citizenship revocation powers against a foreign political figure in recent history.

-Thailand News (TN)