Suspects Flee Scam Hub Raid
Police are hunting three suspects in connection with online fraud after about 20 Japanese nationals were arrested in a raid. Photo: National Police
- By Phoung Vantha
- September 14, 2023 11:45 AM
PHNOM PENH – Police are hunting three suspects in connection with online fraud after about 20 Japanese nationals were arrested in a raid.
Chhay Kim Khoeun, a spokesman for the National Police, said the arrests on Sept. 11 were at Japan's request. Police were still investigating the case.
“Some of the materials were destroyed and some suspects fled while we were raiding the place,” he said. “No one had been charged yet.”
Japan Times said those involved had allegedly been committing fraud using an apartment in Phnom Penh as their hub. Phones laptops and documents were seized. The raid took place after the Japanese Embassy passed on information to local authorities.
The paper said there had been a series of cases of Japanese scam groups hiding out in Southeast Asian countries.
In April, Cambodian authorities deported 19 Japanese over their alleged involvement in phone scams. They were arrested back in Japan.
The Japanese suspects detained in the latest raids are likely to be deported.
