South Korea Seeks Arrests in Cambodian Online Scam Case

Seoul, Oct 20 (AP) Authorities in South Korea are moving to formally arrest the majority of the 64 citizens repatriated from Cambodia on allegations of involvement in online scam operations, police reported on Monday.

The group had been detained in Cambodia in the preceding months and was brought back to Korea via a chartered flight last Saturday. Upon their arrival, they were apprehended by police to determine if they willingly participated in the scams or were coerced into the fraudulent activities.

Online scams originating in Southeast Asia have surged significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating two primary victim groups: those forced to perpetrate scams under duress and the individuals targeted by fraud. Monitoring bodies suggest these scams generate billions of dollars in revenue for international crime syndicates each year.

The Korean National Police Agency stated that prosecutors have petitioned local courts for arrest warrants against 58 of the repatriated individuals, at the police's request. These individuals are suspected of committing online fraud, such as romance scams, fake investment opportunities, and voice phishing, mainly directed at South Korean victims. The courts are set to decide on the approval of these arrests shortly.

The police agency disclosed that five individuals have been released, although it did not specify the reasons, citing ongoing investigations.

South Korean authorities reported that four of the 64 returnees described being physically assaulted and detained against their wills in scam centers in Cambodia.

There is growing pressure on South Korea to implement more robust measures to prevent its nationals from being coerced into working in overseas scam centers. This follows the death of a South Korean in Cambodia in August, allegedly lured by a friend to hand over his bank account for a scam group. Cambodian officials reported the 22-year-old student was subjected to torture.

Estimates from the UN and other international bodies indicate that over 100,000 individuals have been trafficked into scam centers in Cambodia, with comparable numbers in Myanmar and tens of thousands more in other countries.

In response, Seoul estimates about 1,000 South Koreans remain in such centers in Cambodia. Last week, South Korean authorities enforced travel restrictions on certain areas in Cambodia and dispatched a government delegation to engage in discussions on collaborative measures with Cambodian officials.

Previously, online scam centers were predominantly based in Southeast Asian nations like Cambodia and Myanmar, drawing trafficked and other workers primarily from Asian regions. However, a recent Interpol report highlights a growing trend over the past three years, with victims now being trafficked from diverse locations such as South America, Western Europe, and Eastern Africa. Additionally, new scam centers have surfaced in the Middle East, West Africa, and Central America. (AP) SKS SKS

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