Ly Yong Phat

Oknha Ly Yong Phat (born 1958,^[1] Khmer: លី យ៉ុងផាត់, Chinese: 李永法; pinyin: Lǐ Yǒngfǎ) is a Sino-Cambodian senator and businessman. He owns LYP Group, a major conglomerate in Cambodia, with interests in tobacco, electricity, casinos and tourism.^[2] He has a major business presence in Koh Kong province, where he was born.^[3] Yong Phat's businesses have been linked to numerous controversies, including the use of child labour, cyber scam fraud factories, and forced land evictions.^[4][3][5] On 6 December 2022, he was appointed as prime minister Hun Sen's personal advisor.^[6]

In this Cambodian name, the surname is Ly. In accordance with Cambodian custom, this person should be referred to by the given name, Yong Phat.

Oknha Ly Yong Phat
លី យ៉ុងផាត់
Senator of Cambodia
Prime Minister	Hun Sen
Personal details
Born	Phat Suphapha 1958 (1958) (age 66) Koh Kong province, Cambodia
Citizenship	Cambodia Thailand
Political party	Cambodian People's Party
Spouse	Kim Heang
Children	Ly Yaowalak Ly Arporn Phat Bunhour
Occupation	Politician businessman

On 12 September 2024, the U.S. State Department announced sanctions against Ly and his businesses in connection with "serious human rights abuses related to the treatment of workers subjected to forced labour in online investment scam operations" under the Global Magnitsky Act.^[7][8]

Personal life

Hong Phat is a Chinese Cambodian. He holds dual Thai-Cambodian citizenship.^[9]

He is married to Kim Heang, and has several children, including Ly Yaowalak, Phat Bunhour and Ly Arporn.^[10][11][6] Yaowalak is married to Phu Sae Ping, the child of Kok An.^[12][13] Arporn is married to a business tycoon Seng Nhak.^[6][10]

References

1. "Tycoon Ly Yong Phat Appointed as PM Personal Adviser". EAC News. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
2. "TOP 10 TYCOONS". Phnom Penh Post. 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
3. Hunt, Luke (2013-02-03). "Ly Yong Phat, the King of Koh Kong". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
4. Wee, Sui-Lee (2023-08-28). "A Global Cyber-Scam Industry Is Booming in Plain Sight in Cambodia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
5. Sokchea, Meas. "Opposition lawmaker lambastes Ly Yong Phat". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
6. Sony, Ouch (2022-12-12). "Controversial Tycoon Ly Yong Phat Elevated to Hun Sen's Adviser, Others Promoted". VOD. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
7. "US imposes sanctions on Cambodian businessman, entities over scam centers". Reuters. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
8. "Imposing Sanctions on Human Traffickers and Online Investment Scam Operations in Cambodia". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
9. "Ly Yong Phat". Media Ownership Monitor Cambodia 2017. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
10. Brook, Jack (2023-01-02). "Thai Fugitive Linked to Casino Fire Received Cambodian Citizenship, Shares Business Ties with Tycoon Ly Yong Phat". CamboJA News. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
11. "Senator Ly Yong Phat's Family Given Preah Sihanouk State Land for Tourism Development". VOA. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
12. "For Richer and For Richer: CPP Scions Show off Wealth, Power in Elaborate Wedding Videos". VOA. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
13. LOUGHLIN, NEIL (2021). "Beyond Personalism: Elite Politics and Political Families in Cambodia". Contemporary Southeast Asia. 43 (2): 241–264. ISSN 0129-797X.