Seoul: Over 90 billion won (US$63 million) has been stashed away at Cambodian branches of South Korean banks by Cambodian conglomerate Prince Group, now suspected of having operated a global scam network, a lawmaker said Monday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Rep. Kang Min-kuk of the main opposition People Power Party reported that the Cambodian group conducted 52 transactions at five local branches of South Korean banks in Cambodia, totaling over 197 billion won. Of this total, approximately 91 billion won remains deposited at the Cambodian branches of Korean banks, including 56 billion won at KB Bank, 27 billion won at Jeonbuk Bank, and 7 billion won at Woori Bank, as per data from the Financial Supervisory Service.

Prince Group has faced international sanctions due to its involvement in serious crimes such as kidnapping, torture, and murder. The South Korean government is also preparing to sanction the Cambodian conglomerate as part of a broader international crackdown on their activities. Previously, the United States and Britain have already imposed sanctions on the group, and U.S. federal prosecutors have indicted its chairman, Chen Zhi, on charges of fraud and money laundering.

The situation escalated over the weekend when 64 South Koreans, detained in Cambodia over alleged online scams, were repatriated on a chartered flight. These individuals are now facing criminal investigations as suspects. This large-scale repatriation followed the torture death of a South Korean college student, who was reportedly lured by a criminal ring in Cambodia, sparking public outrage in South Korea.

The return of these individuals occurred shortly after a South Korean government response team was dispatched to Cambodia. The team's mission was to assist Korean nationals involved in online scams operated by local crime organizations, including the notorious Prince Group.