CAMBODIA (TR) – Authorities have revealed that 16 Japanese nationals have been detained at a facility believed to be a base for a fraud operation in the southern city of Sihanoukville, reports TBS News (Dec. 16).
According to the Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh, they received a call from local authorities on December 11 informing them that 16 Japanese nationals had been detained at a base for a ring conducting tokushu sagi (specialized fraud).
Perpetrators of this crime target a victim over the telephone and impersonate an authority figure or relative to defraud money from them.
The Japanese nationals are suspected of being involved in the ring. The embassy will confirm detailed information and work with local authorities to respond.
In recent years, Cambodia has seen the development of casinos by Chinese companies in various parts of the country, including Sihanoukville. As well, there has been a steady crackdown on bases for international crimes, including specialized fraud, and the arrest of Japanese nationals has been increasing.
