inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto stated that hundreds of Indonesian citizens have reported to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh and applied for deportation after leaving the online fraud syndicate where they worked.
Ambassador Santo attributed the surge to the intensified eradication of online fraud syndicates, as instructed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, which has led syndicates to simply release their workers.
"Over the past two days, 308 Indonesian citizens have reported to the Indonesian Embassy as walk-ins after being expelled from online fraud syndicates," Ambassador Santo said on Monday (1/19/2026).
The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh noted that in January 2026, 375 Indonesian citizens reported to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh after leaving online fraud syndicates, with 243 of them arriving in just two days, January 16-17.
Then, on January 18, an additional 65 Indonesian citizens, with similar backgrounds, reported to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh. Ambassador Santo stated that these Indonesian citizens were generally safe and healthy, but they faced varying problems.
"Some hold passports, some have had their passports confiscated by a syndicate. Some have overstayed their visas, and some still have valid residency permits in Cambodia," Ambassador Santo concluded.
He said there were also Indonesian citizens who "still want to try to find other work in Cambodia," although others wanted to return to Indonesia immediately. He assured that the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh would handle these hundreds of Indonesian citizens according to the standard procedures applied to thousands of Indonesian citizens in the same situation previously handled.
The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh would also solidify coordination with local authorities and other parties in Cambodia, as well as with authorities in Indonesia, to expedite the deportation process for these problematic Indonesian citizens.
"However, all Indonesian citizens are directed to return to their homeland independently," Ambassador Santo said.
He reminded Indonesian citizens not to be easily tempted by job offers promising high salaries with minimal experience, and to refrain from involving themselves in illegal activities in foreign countries, such as online fraud syndicates.
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