62 Indonesian Migrant Workers Confined In Cambodia As Evidence Of Mafia Fraud Through Social Media Promotion Is Increasing

ILLUSTRATION/UNSPLASH

JAKARTA - Head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) Benny Rhamdani said dozens of migrant workers held in Cambodia were suspected of being victims of promotional fraud through social media.

"They left unofficially, and are believed to be victims of fraud because they were not recorded in the Computerized System for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (SISKOP2MI)," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, August 1.

He explained that BP2MI would carry out an investigation into the case, because this case had been reported by an NGO to the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Police.

"After receiving their return from Cambodia, we will coordinate with the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police," he emphasized.

Benny hopes that the case will not be repeated, and to provide a deterrent effect to criminals who have committed fraud and human trafficking.

"This is an important lesson, that illegal placements are still rampant, syndicates and mafia are still working," he said.

According to Benny, the state must be present and must not lose, the law must work and there must be a deterrent effect by imprisoning anyone involved in the criminal practice of human trafficking.

"This is a crime against humanity and a crime that the state must fight," he said.

Previously, the Cambodian Police together with the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh had again succeeded in rescuing seven Indonesian citizens from the confinement of an Online Scammer Company in Sihanoukville, Cambodia (31/7).

This success increased the number of Indonesian citizens who could be rescued to a total of 62 people, based on information from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs received in Jakarta, Sunday (31/7).

The additional number of Indonesian citizens is based on further investigation from the Cambodian Police. Previously, on July 30, 2022, 55 Indonesian citizens were successfully released by the Cambodian Police and the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh.

According to the plan, the 62 Indonesian citizens will be transferred to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh on July 31, 2022 at night local time.