The 47 Malaysians including 44 Sarawakians held in Banteay Meanchey provincial prison (Photo courtesy of The Phnom Penh Post)
KUCHING: The 47 Malaysians currently being held in a Cambodian prison would have to go through the kingdom’s legal system.
A report in The Phnom Penh Post yesterday quoted a source as saying the detainees were charged with several offences, including fraud and running an online gambling operation.
The source added that eight Chinese nationals arrested together with the 47 Malaysians had been released after they were found to be not involved in the alleged crimes.
“They (suspects) committed online fraud. Each of them had a telephone to defraud people in other countries, not in
Cambodia. For example, they would tell victims that they were the police.
“They would lie to victims that a relative of theirs (victim) was in danger and that the victims would need to send money to help,” the source told the daily.
Meanwhile, Malaysian media reports said the suspects have denied the charges against them, and that Malaysian officials would meet with Cambodian Ministry of Justice officials this week to discuss the case.
However, ministry spokesperson Chin Malin said he did not have information on such a meeting.
Malin said that if found guilty, the suspects would either serve their sentences in Cambodia or be deported to Malaysia by agreement.
“They could be found not guilty, or if the crimes were deemed to be minor, they could be applied under immigration law and be deported.
“The Malaysian embassy can work at the diplomatic level or provide legal assistance such as lawyers to defend their citizens who are having problems in Cambodia.
“But the ultimate decision is dependent on the court, which will rule on the case based on fact, legal provision and evidence,” said Malin, who also denied media reports that the suspects were imprisoned without trial.
He said Cambodian legal proceedings meant that a person charged with a crime could not remain free while the court investigated the case.
The Malaysians, including 44 from Sarawak, are being held at Banteay Meanchey provincial prison since their arrest in December last year.
They claim they were brought to Cambodia on the promise of securing jobs with attractive pay.
The Malaysian Embassy in Phnom Penh is closely monitoring the case and is providing consular assistance to the detainees, while also requesting their release via diplomatic note.