Indonesian claims trafficked in Cambodia

The Embassy of Indonesia in Phnom Penh is investigating the claim by one of its citizens that he was trafficked in Cambodia.

An embassy official told Khmer Times yesterday that the embassy is gathering more information about the claim and will conduct an intervention.

“Regarding this particular case, we are currently still collecting more information by communicating with the worker,” he said.

The investigation comes following the claim by Agung Hariadi, 25, from Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands in Indonesia that he has been held captive and sold in Cambodia.

It has been reported that the video is circulating on social media, in which Agung is requesting assistance for his return to Indonesia. He claims that he was sold, held captive, and coerced into working in Poipet, Cambodia, despite being promised a job in Malaysia.

Judha Nugraha, Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke to the media on the cases of Indonesian citizens involved in online fraud in a number of places around the world, including Cambodia, which have increased.

As of November 2024, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh has handled more than 2,946 cases of Indonesian citizen protection, of which 2,259 cases were related to online fraud.

On a daily basis, the embassy receives an average of 15-30 complaints of Indonesian citizen protection cases that resemble Agung’s case.

Therefore, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urging the public to remain cautious about job vacancies abroad that promise overly attractive benefits, such as high salaries and no prior work experience required, often advertised on social media.

Indonesian citizens who face similar problems in Cambodia are encouraged to report their problems through the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh’s telephone line at +855-12-813-282.

In the wake of its citizens being targets of cyber scam operations, Indonesia earlier this year marked closer cooperation with Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior to jointly tackle transnational crime, especially human as well as drug trafficking.

Statistics provided by Cambodian authorities revealed a substantial increase in the Indonesian expatriate population, estimated at around 100,000, compared to pre-pandemic figures of approximately 2,000. These Indonesian nationals are engaged in various occupations, ranging from work in the hospitality industry to cyber engineering and entrepreneurship.

In early September, Interior Minister Sar Sokha reiterated his commitment to continuing and enhancing the crackdown on online fraud in the Kingdom and claimed this crime negatively impacts society and the lives of many Cambodians.

According to the Ministry’s spokesman, Touch Sokhak, Banteay Meanchey’s Poipet city is targeted for the large-scale crackdown, along with Preah Sihanouk province and Svay Rieng’s Bavet city, where the police have identified many scam centres.

In the past few years, Cambodia has been subject to criticism by some countries and international organisations, as syndicates run by foreigners have been using the Kingdom as the venue for their scam operations.