JAKARTA (Bernama): A total of 2,117 Indonesians have sought assistance from the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh over the past week to return home, following a surge linked to Cambodian authorities’ crackdown on online scam centres.
The Foreign Ministry said the number is expected to keep rising as more Indonesians come forward.
On Jan. 22 alone, 224 Indonesians reported to the embassy, followed by another 164 by 5 pm the next day, bringing the total from 1,726 recorded between Jan. 16 and 21 to 2,117.
"The surge followed raids by the Cambodian government on online fraud operations, prompting many foreign nationals, including Indonesians, to leave locations linked to the syndicates.”
"Similar scenes were reported at several other foreign embassies in Phnom Penh, which were also crowded with their nationals,” said the ministry in a statement on Friday.
Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto said the embassy is stepping up coordination with Cambodian authorities to expedite exit permits and request leniency on immigration penalties for affected Indonesians.
The ministry said that throughout 2025, the embassy handled 5,088 Indonesian-related cases, averaging 15 to 30 cases per day - far below last week’s surge, when new complaints reached as many as 520 in a single day.
Indonesians were also reminded to be vigilant against scams impersonating the embassy and were advised to stay in touch with family members in Indonesia to support their return process. - Bernama
