KUALA LUMPUR: Cambodia has intensified operations against scam syndicates and arrested many suspects involved who took hostages, including Malaysians, the country’s senior minister, Ly Thuch, said.
Last month, more than 1,000 suspects were arrested in raids on cyberscam compounds in at least five provinces, media reports said.
Those detained include Indonesians, as well as citizens of Vietnam, China and Myanmar.
“We have secretly taken action to not spook other suspects,” Ly Thuch told the New Straits Times.
“Prime Minister Hun Manet is committed to this crackdown.
“He has ordered police in all provinces to intensify surveillance and ensure the safe release of hostages.”
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry earlier this year said that 60 Malaysians, believed to be victims of a job scam syndicate, were rescued by Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh on Feb 22.
Cybercrime gangs in Cambodia have been alleged to traffic people from around the world, including Malaysia, into slavery at brutal scam compounds.
Ly Thuch said Hun Manet wanted the victims rescued and repatriated.
“Cambodia will work with Malaysian authorities to save the victims. The fight against these hi-tech criminals has become a priority,” he said.
However, he said that Phnom Penh needed the help of international and regional law enforcement agencies.
“Cambodia cannot address the problem alone. We need international assistance for training and electronic equipment,” he said.
Ly Thuch recalled a remark by a police official investigating the scam operations, saying that those forced to work for the syndicates were treated like “slaves”.
“Their lives are terrible. They are tortured. It is like modern-day slavery,” he said.
Ly Thuch urged Malaysians to remain vigilant when applying for jobs overseas.
“To the young people — there are a lot of opportunities in Cambodia, but double-check the employers. They can be crooks promising a lot of good things,” he said.
The United Nations estimates over 100,000 people are enslaved in Cambodia, contributing to a regional scam industry worth around US$40 billion annually.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
