Indonesian Citizens Who Left the Scam Center in Cambodia in Good Condition, Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh: They Were Not Allowed to

Ambassador Santo while listening to the aspirations of Indonesian citizens who came to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh. (Source: KBRI Phnom Penh)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh ensures that the condition of Indonesian citizens (WNI) who leave the online fraud centers (scam centers) in Cambodia is in good condition, stressing that they will be protected and not left alone.

Speaking in an online press statement from Cambodia held by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, the Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto revealed that around 1,726 Indonesian citizens had visited the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh between January 16 and January 21 evening, after leaving online scam centers (online scam) in a number of areas in Cambodia, along with law enforcement by local authorities to combat online scams.

He explained, this was in line with the increased efforts to eradicate online scams carried out by the Cambodian Government since January 16. Previously, Cambodia had indeed increased its eradication efforts in recent years.

The Indonesian citizens came in waves over several days, with the highest number of 520 Indonesian citizens on January 19, followed by 344 Indonesian citizens on January 20 and 269 Indonesian citizens on January 21. The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh revealed that this figure is quite fantastic, compared to the 5,006 cases of Indonesian citizens handled by the Indonesian Embassy throughout 2025.

The Santo Ambassador met several times directly with Indonesian citizens in the courtyard of the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh. It is not easy, because not a few of them have traveled far and for hours to get to Phnom Penh.

To Indonesian citizens, Ambassador Santo said he would try his best for each individual according to the problems experienced.

"You get a commitment, what we do is the best option based on each case. The solution for each person is different. Our commitment, the best solution, based on years of experience dealing with various problems," explained Ambassador Santo, Thursday (22/1).

"They are not left, given protection, hopefully it will calm down and want to follow the process that is applied so that they can return to Indonesia," he continued.

He added, based on the initial assessment with various existing devices, there were no Indonesian citizens who were indicated as victims of Human Trafficking (TPPO), no physical violence, healthy and safe.

"Of course, there are those who are stressed, tired, traumatized because of long journeys or other reasons. Some are sick, but not because of violence, and they are already under the health service center," explained the Indonesian Ambassador.

Indonesia and Cambodia have an MoU on combating online scams, which is considered a transnational crime, signed in 2023, to be a mechanism to strengthen cooperation in handling online scams, said Ambassador Santo.

Meanwhile, the Acting Director of Indonesian Migrant Protection at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heni Hami Hamidah, said that the relevant ministries and agencies had coordinated on this issue.

This includes assessments made upon the arrival of Indonesian citizens in the country, to determine which victims and which are not victims. In addition to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heni said this would involve the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the Ministry of Social Affairs, to the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers.

"Protection is a priority and will help handle Indonesian citizens in Cambodia," he said in brief.