Police Call Indonesian Citizens Victims Of Gambling Cartel Confinement In Cambodia Numbered 60 People

JAKARTA - The National Police stated that the number of Indonesian citizens (WNI) being held by gambling cartels in Cambodia is increasing. The results of coordination with the Defense Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Cambodia are currently 60 people.

"The latest data shows that the number of Indonesian citizens who are being held captive is not 53 people but has increased to 60 people," said Karo Penmas of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan in a statement, Friday, July 29.

So far, according to the information obtained, the Cambodian Police have managed to communicate with several representatives of Indonesian citizens who are being held captive.

Then, the presence of dozens of Indonesian citizens is said to be in Phum 1, Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia at the coordinates 10°37'33.0"N 103°30'08.7"E.

"The Indonesian National Police and the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh continue to coordinate with the Cambodian Police. The goal is to pick up the 60 people and return them to Indonesia," said Ramadhan.

Previously reported, 53 Indonesian citizens were reported to be victims of fraud by a fake investment company in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

This case emerged from a complaint from a netizen with the account @angelinahui97 to the Manpower and Transmigration Office of Central Java Province regarding the confinement of 54 Indonesian citizens in Cambodia.

The Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and BHI at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, said cases of fraud at fake investment companies were increasingly happening because of the large number of job offers in Cambodia through social media.

In 2021, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh has successfully handled and repatriated 119 Indonesian citizens who were victims of fake investments. However, this year, similar cases are on the rise. As of July 2022, 291 Indonesian citizens have become victims, with 133 of them having been successfully repatriated.

To reduce the number of cases, said Judha, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has facilitated the Criminal Investigation Police investigators to conduct investigations in Cambodia.

"From the Indonesian citizens who have been released, the Indonesian Embassy has also received information about recruiters, most of whom are still from Indonesia," said Judha.