Recently, a large-scale tourism development project in Long Bay, Kampong Province, owned by Chinese businessman Deng Pibing, has been exposed for allegedly harboring underground network fraud, illegal gambling, and drug activities. Deng Pibing claimed to be a long-time friend of Yatai Xincheng’s mastermind She Zhijiang, who was extradited to China and had disclosed his affiliation with China’s National Security Bureau.
Deng Pibing is currently the chairman of Zhengheng (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., originally from Hunan, China, who has resided in Cambodia for over 20 years and holds a noble title. The Long Bay project under Zhengheng is located in the Koh Kong Province on the southwest coast of Cambodia along the Thai Bay Special Economic Zone, covering an area of about 45,000 hectares and promoted as a world-class integrated destination for living, tourism, and vacation.
A 24-minute exclusive investigative documentary aired by Peninsula TV’s program “101 East” on October 10th revealed interactions between the media reporters posing as members of a large online gambling group from the Philippines and Deng Pibing and his business partners, providing insights into the operation of the Long Bay park. The footage is believed to have been filmed last year.
During the investigation, Deng Pibing’s trusted assistant, Hong Lei (self-proclaimed as Martin), a Chinese citizen, claimed to have worked for Deng Pibing since early 2024. Hong Lei was quoted saying, “We are known for our security here,” and described the park’s operations related to land sales, business support, fee collections, security, and protection services.
The investigative journalists were shown around the park by Hong Lei, visiting buildings constructed by China Railway (a Chinese SOE). Mr. Lin, Deng Pibing’s business partner, mentioned that the first phase of Long Bay already had over 6,000 employees, with about 300 security personnel stationed in the park.
Upon touring the park’s office buildings, dormitories, restaurants, supermarkets, and entertainment facilities, it was noted that some luxury residential buildings were closely monitored, restricting residents’ movements in and out.
Close to 11 PM, Deng Pibing personally led the investigative reporters to the park’s entertainment venues. The park boasts over 20 luxurious karaoke rooms, where fraudulent groups often host lavish parties, rewarding high-performing staff with alcohol, sexual services, and drugs, with each event costing tens of thousands of dollars.
Deng Pibing and his associates repeatedly mentioned their close ties with the Cambodian police to the reporters, citing their role in dispensing salaries and the relationship between the police station and their donations. Deng Pibing even arranged for the investigative reporters to ride in his personally used police vehicle, accompanying a fleet of police cars to another park.
The documentary touched upon Deng Pibing’s relocation to Cambodia from China about 20 years ago, his involvement in information technology management initially, and his subsequent rise to prominence. In 2023, the UK government sanctioned one of Deng Pibing’s companies, alleging involvement in forced labor and online fraud activities within the Long Bay project.
Since the beginning of this year, Cambodian authorities have intensified nationwide crackdowns on telecom fraud, conducting surprise inspections in Long Bay earlier this year. Peninsula TV reported that Hong Lei responded subsequently, stating that Deng Pibing received advice to leave Cambodia a few days before the arrest of Chen Zhi, a crime boss, on January 6th. Deng Pibing’s current whereabouts are unknown.
Returning to the topic of She Zhijiang, who has also been accused of telecommunication fraud and has been extradited to China.
Stay tuned for the translation…