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Dozens of South Koreans detained Cambodia People suspected of being involved in online fraud will be sent home this week for investigation, officials said on Thursday, in what would be the largest collective compensation for South Korea’s overseas criminal suspects.
The South Korean suspects, including 65 men and eight women, were suspected of defrauding fellow Koreans out of 48.6 billion won ($33 million), the statement said.
About 200 South Koreans were detained in the crackdown, including 73 suspects, amid public outrage at the country’s center for fraud. Southeast Asia Last summer, a South Korean student was found dead after reports that he was forced to work in an online scam in Cambodia.
Authorities said he died after being tortured and beaten, and South Korea sent a government delegation to Cambodia in October for talks on a joint response.
South Korea will send a charter flight to Cambodia and is expected to return on Friday carrying the suspect, who will be handed over to investigating authorities immediately upon arrival, a government statement said.
Cybercrime is rampant in Southeast Asia, especially in Cambodia and Myanmarbecause trafficked aliens are hired to run romance and cryptocurrency scams, often recruited with false job offers and then forced to work in near-slavery conditions. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that global fraud victims will lose between US$18 billion and US$37 billion in 2023.
In January, Cambodia said it had arrested and extradited China A tycoon accused of running a massive online fraud operation.
Since October, South Korea has repatriated about 130 South Korean fraud suspects from Cambodia and less than 30 South Korean fraud suspects from Cambodia. LaosAccording to police, there are Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines.
South Korean officials said in October that an estimated 1,000 South Koreans were trapped in Cambodia at the center of the scam. Some are believed to be forced laborers.
South Korea said it will continue its efforts to combat fraud crimes targeting South Korean nationals.