Teng Bunma
Encyclopedia
Teng Bunma is one of the wealthiest businessmen in Cambodia
, a country whose wealth is concentrated in the hands of a small group of closely connected politicians, military officials and businessmen. He is of Chinese
-Khmer
descent.
Teng Bunma was one of first Thai-Cambodian businesspeople to invest significantly in Cambodia after the fall of the Khmer Rouge
in 1979. First president of Cambodia's Chamber of Commerce, he also owned the luxury Intercontinental hotel in Phnom Penh
and Rasmei Kampuchea, the country's most influential newspaper. His son is a partner with Khmer Rouge functionary Ieng Sary
in running the Caesar international casino in Pailin
, a mining town in western Cambodia.
Thailand issued a arrest warrant
against Teng Bunma in June 1998 because of fraud
. Police determinations took place also in Hong Kong: there Bunma had submitted a falsified passport
for the registration of its enterprise "to Thai Boon Roong". For years Bunma has been denied entry into the USA, because he appears on that countries list of suspected drug dealers. A 1996 article ("Medellin on the Mekong") in the Hong Kong
-based Far Eastern Economic Review, by United States
journalist
Nate Thayer
, described Teng Bunma as a significant figure in Cambodia's international drug-smuggling trade.
Teng Bunma has been described as "trigger-happy tycoon" following incidents where he used or brandished hand guns. In the first incident he shot out a $3000 tire of an airplane on the tarmac after perceiving rudenes from airline staff. "I lost my temper and control and had to shoot one of the plane's tires. I wanted to shoot more of them, to make sure that all were flat, but there were a lot of passengers surrounding the plane." (The Cambodia Daily, April 9). In the second incident he brandished a gun inside an airplane and demanded the crew delay takeoff until his late friends arrived.
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, a country whose wealth is concentrated in the hands of a small group of closely connected politicians, military officials and businessmen. He is of Chinese
Thai Chinese
The Thai Chinese are an overseas Chinese community who live in Thailand. Thailand is home to the largest, oldest, most prominent, and most integrated overseas Chinese community in the world with a population of approximately 9.5 million people...
-Khmer
Khmer people
Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for approximately 90% of the 14.8 million people in the country. They speak the Khmer language, which is part of the larger Mon–Khmer language family found throughout Southeast Asia...
descent.
Teng Bunma was one of first Thai-Cambodian businesspeople to invest significantly in Cambodia after the fall of the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
in 1979. First president of Cambodia's Chamber of Commerce, he also owned the luxury Intercontinental hotel in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
and Rasmei Kampuchea, the country's most influential newspaper. His son is a partner with Khmer Rouge functionary Ieng Sary
Ieng Sary
Ieng Sary was a powerful figure in the Khmer Rouge. He was the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Democratic Kampuchea from 1975 to 1979 and held several senior positions in the Khmer Rouge until his defection to the government in 1996....
in running the Caesar international casino in Pailin
Pailin
Pailin is a province at the northern edge of the Cardamom Mountains, in the west of Cambodia near the border of Thailand. This province is surrounded by Battambang Province, and was officially carved out of Battambang to become a separate administrative division after the surrender of the Ieng...
, a mining town in western Cambodia.
Thailand issued a arrest warrant
Arrest warrant
An arrest warrant is a warrant issued by and on behalf of the state, which authorizes the arrest and detention of an individual.-Canada:Arrest warrants are issued by a judge or justice of the peace under the Criminal Code of Canada....
against Teng Bunma in June 1998 because of fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
. Police determinations took place also in Hong Kong: there Bunma had submitted a falsified passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
for the registration of its enterprise "to Thai Boon Roong". For years Bunma has been denied entry into the USA, because he appears on that countries list of suspected drug dealers. A 1996 article ("Medellin on the Mekong") in the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
-based Far Eastern Economic Review, by United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Nate Thayer
Nate Thayer
Nate Thayer is a journalist who interviewed Pol Pot. He was the Cambodia correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review, a respected investigative publication that published from 1946 to 2009...
, described Teng Bunma as a significant figure in Cambodia's international drug-smuggling trade.
Teng Bunma has been described as "trigger-happy tycoon" following incidents where he used or brandished hand guns. In the first incident he shot out a $3000 tire of an airplane on the tarmac after perceiving rudenes from airline staff. "I lost my temper and control and had to shoot one of the plane's tires. I wanted to shoot more of them, to make sure that all were flat, but there were a lot of passengers surrounding the plane." (The Cambodia Daily, April 9). In the second incident he brandished a gun inside an airplane and demanded the crew delay takeoff until his late friends arrived.