South Korea Seeks to Arrest Dozens of Online Scam Suspects Repatriated From Cambodia

According to the Associated Press, 64 South Korean nationals repatriated from Cambodia are facing formal arrest after police urged local courts to issue arrest warrants for 58 of them. Authorities detained the group in Cambodia over several months and flew them back to South Korea on a charter flight on Saturday, with the aim of determining whether they joined scam organisations voluntarily or were forced to work there.

Five returnees have been released, though the police have not disclosed the reasons for their release as investigations continue. Four of the returnees told investigators they were beaten while held in scam centres in Cambodia. The case follows public calls for stronger action after a South Korean national was found dead in Cambodia in August, with officials stating that thousands have been trafficked to scam centres in the region.