Synopsis: Anggiat Napitupulu acknowledges the burden posed by his countrymen involved in criminal activities in Cambodia during talks with Interior Minister Sar Sokha, as recent deportation figures underscore the scale of the challenge.
An Indonesian government official has apologised for difficulties caused to Cambodia by Indonesian nationals involved in online scams and other crimes, while recognising the Kingdom’s efforts to investigate suspects and facilitate their repatriation.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Immigration and Corrections adviser Anggiat Napitupulu made the remarks during a meeting with Interior Minister Sar Sokha in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.
Napitupulu welcomed the results of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in investigating, detaining and repatriating Indonesian nationals involved in online fraud. He acknowledged the difficulties the Kingdom’s authorities faced in caring for Indonesians held at immigration facilities while awaiting deportation.
He asked for understanding regarding the burden created by Indonesians who had travelled to the Kingdom and committed crimes, particularly technology-related fraud.
Responding to the apology, Sokha said the issue was not confined to Indonesian nationals, noting that individuals of other nationalities, including Cambodians, were involved in criminal activities.
Sokha said the government, led by Prime Minister Hun Manet, was committed to addressing the issue through cooperation rather than blaming any country for the actions of individuals. He noted the importance of bilateral and multilateral mechanisms in tackling transnational crime.
The meeting came amid the repatriation of large numbers of Indonesians from the Kingdom. On October 20, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh said it had helped return 369 nationals on October 18 and 19, including 357 from the Bati Immigration Detention Centre in Takeo province.
The embassy described it as its largest two-day repatriation operation of this year, following an increase in cases involving Indonesian nationals in the Kingdom since January.
It said those repatriated had been detained during the Kingdom’s operations targeting online scams and illegal online gambling.
The embassy urged Indonesian nationals not to return to the Kingdom for illegal activities and reminded citizens abroad to comply with local laws.
Figures attributed to the General Department of Immigration show that 52,039 foreign nationals of 87 nationalities were deported during the first nine months of this year. Chinese nationals accounted for the largest group, with 22,926 deportations, followed by Indonesians at 8,166, Vietnamese at 4,096, Bangladeshis at 3,051 and Pakistanis at 2,522.
Sokha welcomed cooperation between the two countries’ law enforcement agencies and the outcome of the delegation’s discussions with immigration officials.
