RRI.CO.ID, Phnom Penh - More than 2,000 Indonesian citizens involved in online scam syndicates in Cambodia filed complaints with the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh between January 16 and 23, 2026, seeking assistance and repatriation to Indonesia.

Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto said the embassy had received a total of 2,117 complaints during the period, a sharp increase from 1,726 cases recorded between January 16 and 21, 2026.

“On January 22, there was an increase of 224 Indonesian citizens, followed by another 164 by 5 p.m. local time on January 23,” Santo said in a written statement issued on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

Santo said the surge was a direct result of a Cambodian government crackdown on online fraud centers, prompting many foreign nationals, including Indonesians, to leave syndicate locations and seek help from their respective embassies.

“As a result, many foreign embassies in Phnom Penh are currently receiving hundreds of their citizens,” he said.

Ambassador Santo emphasized that the Indonesian Embassy continues to accelerate repatriation efforts and is coordinating closely with Cambodian authorities to facilitate the process.

“The embassy is working intensively with Cambodian authorities to expedite the issuance of exit permits and seek leniency in immigration penalties for Indonesian citizens,” he said.

The embassy is also conducting phased data collection, case assessments, and issuing temporary travel documents, known as Surat Perjalanan Laksana Paspor (SPLP), for Indonesians without passports. Those holding valid passports and visas have been encouraged to arrange their return flights independently.

The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh has urged Indonesian citizens to remain patient and orderly throughout the repatriation process, while staying alert to potential fraud schemes that falsely claim to represent the embassy.

“All embassy services are provided free of charge, except for official SPLP issuance fees, which are regulated under existing rules,” Santo said.

Throughout 2025, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh handled 5,088 cases involving Indonesian citizens, averaging 15 to 30 cases per day. This figure contrasts sharply with the past week alone, when the embassy recorded as many as 520 new complaints in a single day. (Gusti Panji/Lasti Martina)