The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications on July 22 said it found that Cambodia’s leading mobile operator Smart Axiata Co Ltd violated procedures for acquiring new numbers to allocate to new customers, deactivating numbers in use by active subscribers without their consent and reselling them.

Smart must compensate the original owners, who have the right to have their phone numbers reinstated, the ministry said.

“All persons involved in the above cases will be held accountable before the laws in force,” the ministry said, calling on Smart to make a public apology on its website and promise not to let the incident happen again.

The ministry ordered mobile service providers to strengthen management and procedural frameworks to ensure the proper allocation and sale of SIM cards to avoid a repeat of this type of incident.

“The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications will continue to monitor and take the strictest action possible, in accordance with the laws and regulations in force for any mobile phone service provider that commits an offence.”