Embassy repatriates 28 Indonesians from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, who were victims of human trafficking in the online scamming industry.

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Indonesia's Jakarta Staff from the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh helped organize the repatriation of 28 Indonesian citizens who were suspected of being victims of human trafficking from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Indonesia (04/10). 28 citizens of Indonesia landed at Soekarno Hatta International Airport at approximately 16:20 WIB on October 4, 2023. The results of the examination that the local authorities conducted on them show that they are victims of human trafficking.

 

Prior to this, it was thought that 27 of the 28 Indonesians had been taken advantage of at internet con businesses in Poipet, Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia. Following intensive coordination between the Indonesian embassy and local law enforcement, the Indonesian citizens were taken from a Poipet accommodation on June 28, 2023, by the Department of Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection of the Phnom Penh Central Police to undergo additional examination. On July 14, 2023, the 27 Indonesians were temporarily moved to a shelter operated by the organization Caritas.

 

One more Indonesian citizen was saved by the Cambodian Police on September 5, 2023. This person had previously worked for the same company as the 27 other Indonesian citizens who had already been saved, but had been moved to a new online scamming business in the same region.  They were moved to Phnom Penh and then right away put in the Caritas shelter to go through additional processing together with the other 27 Indonesian nationals. While three Indonesian citizens were staying in the Caritas shelter, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh provided them with financial support for medical care, medication, and other necessities. In addition, KBR I Phnom Penh continuously provided interpretation assistance during the interview process at the Police and the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation of Cambodia.

 

The 28 Indonesian citizens were suspected of being victims of human trafficking, according to a letter sent by the Cambodian Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh during the investigation. The letter was based on the findings of interviews carried out by the Cambodian authorities. In addition, the 28 Indonesian individuals who were going to be deported had their immigration status and permits promptly arranged with Cambodian Immigration by the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh.

 

After arriving in Indonesia, the 28 Indonesian citizens are anticipated to be housed in the Ministry of Social Affairs' Bambu Apus Safe House and Trauma Center (RPTC) to undergo rehabilitation before being returned to their honorable place of origin. In addition, the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Indonesian Police will conduct a follow-up assessment procedure on them in order to conduct additional research and take legal action against recruitment agencies operating in Indonesia.

 

Internet scams involving Indonesian nationals rose eightfold in Cambodia between 2021 and 2022. The Indonesian government frequently cautions its people against accepting job offers that turn out to be fraudulent websites.

 

 

 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a source