Ly Yong Phat

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.
Lok Neak Oknha
Ly Yong Phat
លី យ៉ុងផាត់
Senator of Cambodia
Incumbent
Assumed office
2006
Prime MinisterHun Sen
Personal details
Born1958 (age 67–68)
Koh Kong province, Cambodia
CitizenshipCambodia
Thailand
PartyCambodian People's Party
SpouseKim Heang
ChildrenLy Yaowalak
Ly Arporn
Phat Bunhour
Occupation
  • Politician
  • businessman

Ly Yong Phat (born 1958,[1] Khmer: លី យ៉ុងផាត់, Chinese: 李永法; pinyin: Lǐ Yǒngfǎ), also known as his Thai name Phat Suphapha[2] (Thai: พัด สุภาภา), is a Sino-Cambodian senator and businessman. He owns LYP Group, a major conglomerate in Cambodia, with interests in tobacco, electricity, casinos and tourism.[3] He has a major business presence in Koh Kong province, where he was born.[4] Yong Phat's businesses have been linked to numerous controversies, including the use of child labour, cyber scam fraud factories, and forced land evictions.[5][4][6] On 6 December 2022, he was appointed as prime minister Hun Sen's personal advisor.[7] On 25 August 2023, he was appointed as prime minister Hun Manet's personal advisor.[8]

Ly Yong Phat was granted the title of "Oknha"[2] and later promoted to "Neak Oknha". On 12 June 2023 the Cambodian Oknha Association (COA) was launched, he was selected as the first president for a five-year term.[9] On 27 April 2024, He was promoted to "Lok Neak Oknha" together with Pung Kheav Se, Pheap Hiek (ភាព ហៀក, 陈玉叶) and other three Chinese Cambodians.[10]

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.[11][12]

Personal life

Ly Yong Phat is a Chinese Cambodian of Hainanese descent. He holds dual Thai-Cambodian citizenship.[13]

He is married to Kim Heang, and has several children, including Ly Yaowalak, Phat Bunhour and Ly Arporn.[14][15][7] Yaowalak is married to Phu Sae Ping, the child of Kok An.[16][17] Arporn is married to a business tycoon Seng Nhak.[7][14]

References

  1. ^ "Tycoon Ly Yong Phat Appointed as PM Personal Adviser". EAC News. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  2. ^ a b "Ly Yong Phat: The King of Koh Kong driving crony capitalism in Cambodia". The Nation. 2025-07-09.
  3. ^ "TOP 10 TYCOONS". Phnom Penh Post. 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  4. ^ a b Hunt, Luke (2013-02-03). "Ly Yong Phat, the King of Koh Kong". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Sokchea, Meas. "Opposition lawmaker lambastes Ly Yong Phat". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  7. ^ a b c Sony, Ouch (2022-12-12). "Controversial Tycoon Ly Yong Phat Elevated to Hun Sen's Adviser, Others Promoted". VOD. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  8. ^ "国王任命方侨生、李永法、杨宗勋、李坤泰为洪玛内总理顾问" (in Chinese). Jian Hua Daily. 2023-08-25.
  9. ^ "Cambodian Oknha Association officially launched". Khmer Times. 12 June 2023.
  10. ^ "方侨生、陈玉叶、李永法等华社侨领获国王御封"大公爵"" (in Chinese). Jian Hua Daily. 2024-04-27.
  11. ^ "US imposes sanctions on Cambodian businessman, entities over scam centers". Reuters. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Imposing Sanctions on Human Traffickers and Online Investment Scam Operations in Cambodia". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  13. ^ "Ly Yong Phat". Media Ownership Monitor Cambodia 2017. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  14. ^ a b 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.
  15. ^ "Senator Ly Yong Phat's Family Given Preah Sihanouk State Land for Tourism Development". VOA. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  16. ^ "For Richer and For Richer: CPP Scions Show off Wealth, Power in Elaborate Wedding Videos". VOA. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  17. ^ LOUGHLIN, NEIL (2021). "Beyond Personalism: Elite Politics and Political Families in Cambodia". Contemporary Southeast Asia. 43 (2): 241–264. ISSN 0129-797X.

[1]

  1. ^ "Thailand Seizes Assets Of Cambodian Tycoon Ly Yong Phat". 2025-11-03. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
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