Cambodia cybercrime crackdown arrest tally hits 2,000
The United Nations has described Southeast Asia as the "ground zero" of cybercrime centres, where workers typically use romance or business cons to defraud web users of an estimated US$40 billion annually.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet this week issued a directive telling law enforcement and the military to clamp down on the internet sweatshops or risk losing their jobs.
Information minister Neth Pheaktra, a member of a committee to combat online scams, told AFP authorities had expanded the scope of their raids to nine of the country's 25 provinces.
"So far, some 2,000 suspects have been arrested," he said, adding that the suspects include Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Indian nationals.
Neth Preaktra said the government wants to make the country "no safe haven for online scammers" and "will dismantle every scam network no matter where they hide".
At least 226 Chinese nationals were among the detained suspects, according to a police report, which said some ringleaders would face prosecution in Cambodia while most others would be expelled.
The justice ministry also said it had suspended one prosecutor pending an investigation after he released several cybercrime suspects.
Abuses in Cambodia's scam centres are happening on a "mass scale", Amnesty International said in a report published last month.
There are at least 53 scam compounds in Cambodia where organised criminal groups carry out human trafficking, forced labour, child labour, torture, deprivation of liberty and slavery, the report said.
Many of those freed from Southeast Asian scam centres say they were trafficked or lured there under false pretences.
In March, Cambodia deported 119 Thais - among 230 foreign nationals detained during raids on alleged cyber scam centres in Poipet city.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Straits Times
Iran executes two members of opposition group for attacking infrastructure
DUBAI - Iran executed two members of the banned Mujahideen-e-Khalq group for attacking civilian infrastructure with homemade projectiles, the judiciary news outlet Mizan said on Sunday, amid criticism from Amnesty International over a "grossly unfair" trial. Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani-Eslamloo, identified as "operational elements" of the MEK, were sentenced to death in September 2024 - a verdict upheld by the Supreme Court, which denied their request for a retrial, Mizan said. "The terrorists, in coordination with MEK leaders, had [...]built launchers and hand-held mortars in line with the group's goals, fired projectiles heedlessly at citizens, homes, service and administrative facilities, educational and charity centres," the report said. The defendants were indicted with "moharebeh", - an Islamic term meaning waging war against God - destroying public property and "membership in a terrorist organisation with the aim of disrupting national security." Amnesty International said that Ehsani-Eslamloo and Hassani were arrested in 2022 and maintained their innocence during a trial which the rights group called "grossly unfair and marred by allegations of torture and forced confessions.' "According to informed sources, agents interrogated them without lawyers present and subjected them to torture and other ill-treatment, including beatings and prolonged solitary confinement, to extract self-incriminating statements," it said in January. According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, the number of people executed in Iran rose to at least 901 in 2024, the highest number since 2015. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road South sinkhole removed; road remains closed for repairs Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Life Vet Talk: Pet owners and vets need to work together to prevent infectious zoonotic diseases Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Singapore For Singapore to do well, PAP govt has to continue to hold its own: SM Lee Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 Singapore Mum at 15: More teens in Singapore gave birth in 2024 Business Already owning 5 properties, woman wanted elderly dad's 4 homes The MEK, known in English as People's Mujahideen Organisation of Iran, was a powerful leftist-Islamist group that staged bombing campaigns against the shah's government and U.S. targets in the 1970s but ultimately fell out with the other factions of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Since then, the MEK has opposed the Islamic Republic and its leadership in exile has been Paris-based. The group was listed as a terrorist organisation by the U.S. and the European Union until 2012. REUTERS
Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Straits Times
US business delegation to visit China, SCMP says
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Both Washington and Beijing are working to secure a visit to China by the US president in 2025 BEIJING – A high-level delegation from the US-China Business Council will visit China this week and is expected to meet senior Chinese officials, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on July 27, citing two sources familiar with the matter. The delegation will be led by FedEx Chief Executive Rajesh Subramaniam, the council's board chair, and is expected to include Boeing executives and USCBC President Sean Stein, the report added. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. 'They are expected to meet with Chinese officials - potentially to revive business discussions,' a source told the SCMP. Both sides are also working to secure a visit to China by the US president in 2025 , the SCMP report said. The council did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The visit coincides with the latest round of US-China trade negotiations in Sweden, where China's Vice-Premier He Lifeng is meeting US officials over July 27 to 30 for a new round of economic and trade talks. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road South sinkhole removed; road remains closed for repairs Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Thai-Cambodia border shelling continues despite Trump's ceasefire call Singapore PAP has to retain its position for S'pore to keep doing well: SM Lee Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 Singapore HSA will not trace vape users who throw away e-vaporisers in disposal bins at 23 CCs Singapore Mum at 15: More teens in Singapore gave birth in 2024 Business Already owning 5 properties, woman wanted elderly dad's 4 homes China faces an Aug 12 deadline to reach a durable deal with the White House or risk higher US tariffs. REUTERS
Straits Times
18 hours ago
- Straits Times
Workers used nylon rope to pull out driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Construction site foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah speaking at the site of the sinkhole along Tanjong Katong on July 27. SINGAPORE - Construction site foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah and his colleagues were at a worksite near the One Amber condominium when they heard a loud sound on the evening of July 26. The rushed out of the worksite to see a sinkhole in the middle of Tanjong Katong Road South , and black car had fallen in. To his surprise, he saw a woman coming out of the car. 'There was one car, and one madam was inside the car. I was thinking, 'somebody has dropped inside, I want to help',' said Mr Subbiah, who recounted the rescue to reporters at an interview on July 27 near the scene of the incident. He gave instructions to three other workers to toss the woman some rope so they could pull her out. In all the rescue effort took around three to five minutes, said Mr Subbiah, 46, who works for Ohin Construction. The sinkhole later filled with water, but it was dry when workers rescued the driver. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong Road South closed for repairs after car fell into sinkhole Asia Thai-Cambodia border shelling continues despite Trump's ceasefire call Singapore HSA will not trace vape users who throw away e-vaporisers in disposal bins at 23 CCs Singapore Mum at 15: More teens in Singapore gave birth in 2024 Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 Business Already owning 5 properties, woman wanted elderly dad's 4 homes Opinion Metallurgy degree for IT job in Singapore? Why not, says Tata Consultancy's growth markets chief World Israel resumes airdrop aid to Gaza, military says 'I told my workers to go down and help her, but they said they cannot climb out. So they just threw the rope first,' he said. Footage on social media showed other workers quickly placing barricades next to the sinkhole. The sinkhole had formed at around 5.50pm on July 26, according to national water agency PUB. It caused a car to fall in and two lanes of the road to collapse. The incident had taken place adjacent to a PUB worksite. Residents had earlier told reporters that there was a burst water pipe at the same area the night before the sinkhole appeared. The driver was later taken to hospital by the Singapore Civil Defence Force. PUB said in a July 27 statement on Facebook that the woman is able to walk and undergoing further medical checks.
