Social observers have welcomed the Anti-Corruption Unit’s decision to suspend Sean Borath from his position as deputy chief, in connection with an alleged fraud case involving former tycoon Leng Channa and the company Brilliant City.

Development policy and research adviser Sek Socheat told The Cambodia Daily on Tuesday that the Anti-Corruption Unit should move the case forward to the courts once sufficient evidence has been gathered, to ensure that the law and justice are served, and that Sean Borath is prosecuted.

Sek Socheat said the unit’s willingness to tackle wrongdoing of this kind was a source of pride for the Cambodian government. He added that such action could help restore public trust in the integrity of law enforcement officials tasked with eradicating corruption.

The observer called on the government to implement a more effective anti-corruption campaign, urging the Anti-Corruption Unit in particular to adopt stronger measures to stamp out graft further.

On August 11, the Anti-Corruption Unit announced the suspension of Sean Borath from his deputy chief position and ordered him to report to the unit’s offices daily.

The decision followed the unit’s launch of a formal investigation into Sean Borath on July 3, 2025.

The Anti-Corruption Unit stated that Sean Borath had been found to be linked to a case involving former tycoon Leng Channa, in which thousands of victims in Kampong Thom and Siem Reap provinces were allegedly defrauded of millions of dollars. The findings came after nearly two years of investigation.

The unit said its review confirmed Sean Borath as a suspect in the fraud.

On March 12, 2024, former tycoon Leng Channa and several associates were arrested on charges of aggravated fraud with premeditation, money laundering and failing to honour obligations on tradable instruments, including issuing bad cheques.

Following Leng Channa’s arrest, a number of photographs of Sean Borath were widely circulated, appearing to show the two men collaborating to defraud members of the public of an estimated 300 million US dollars.