28 Human Trafficking Victims from Cambodia Successfully Repatriated
- ANTARA/HO-Kemlu RI.
Jakarta – A total of 28 Indonesian citizens who were victims of human trafficking had their repatriation facilitated from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Indonesia with the assistance of staff from the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.
28 Indonesian nationals arrived at Soekarno Hatta International Airport around 4.20 PM, they have undergone an examination process by local authorities with the results indicating that they are victims of human trafficking.
Ilustrasi-Pelaku Kasus Tindak Pidana Perdagangan Orang
- ANTARA FOTO/Aprillio Akbar
"They have conducted an examination by local authorities with a result that indicates that they are human trafficking victims," the Minister of Foreign Affairs said in Jakarta on Thursday, as reported from its official site.
Previously, 27 of the 28 Indonesian were suspected of having experienced exploitation at online scamming companies in Poipet, Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia.
Ilustrasi penipuan online (Photo/IndiaToday)
- vstory
On June 28, 2023, the Indonesian citizens were picked up from a Poipet accommodation by the Phnom Penh Central Police's Department of Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection after intensive coordination between the embassy of Indonesia and the local law enforcement to undergo further examination.
The 27 Indonesian individuals were then relocated temporarily to a shelter run by the institution Caritas on July 14th, 2023.
On September 5 2023, the Cambodian Police additionally rescued one Indonesian citizen who previously worked at the same company as the 27 Indonesian citizens who had been rescued previously, but had been transferred to a different online scamming company in the same province.
Menlu Retno Marsudi bertemu sejumlah WNI yang jadi korban online scam di Kamboja
- Rilis Kemlu RI
After being transferred to Phnom Penh, they were immediately placed at the Caritas shelter to undergo further processing with the other 27 Indonesian citizens.
The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh helped three Indonesian citizens with logistical support, medicine, and hospital finance while they were residing at the Caritas shelter.
Apart from that, KBR I Phnom Penh consistently offered interpretation support throughout the interview procedure, both at the Police and at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation of Cambodia.
In its development, the Cambodian Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation sent a letter to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh stating that the 28 Indonesian citizens were suspected as victims of human trafficking based on the results of interviews conducted by the Cambodian authorities.
Furthermore, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh immediately coordinated with Cambodian Immigration regarding the immigration status and permits for the 28 Indonesian citizens who would be repatriated.
Cambodia has emerged as the country with the highest increase in online scams perpetrated on Indonesian citizens, with the number of cases increasing eightfold in the period from 2021 to 2022.
"The Indonesian government has constantly advised Indonesian citizens to be cautious of accepting job opportunities that lead to exploitation by online scamming companies," the Minister remarked.
