Chinese manager of Kandal casino under arrest

24
Aug

Chinese manager of Kandal casino under arrest

Source: Khmer Times

A Chinese manager of a casino was detained for investigation and two Vietnamese were arrested by the An Giang Provincial Police in connection with the case of 40 Vietnamese fleeing forced labour in Golden Phoenix Entertainment Casino in Chrey Thom commune, Koh Thom district, Kandal province.

General Keo Vannthan, Immigration Department spokesman, said yesterday that a Chinese manager of a casino was detained and investigation is progressing. For the 11 Vietnamese nationals, the specialised police are preparing a request to the Ministry of Interior to deport them from Cambodia.

“We have completed the interrogation of the 11 Vietnamese nationals and are preparing a request to the Ministry of Interior to expel them from Cambodia soon. For the Chinese manager of a casino, who is in custody, further investigation is needed,” he said.

An Giang Provincial Police Investigation Security Agency arrested two Vietnamese suspects in connection with “organising illegal exits”.

Colonel Đinh Van Noi, Director of the provincial police was quoted by VNA News, said the Vietnamese suspects were Nguyen Thị Le (born in 1980), and Le Van Danh (born in 1988), both living Long Bình Township, An Phu district of the Mekong Delta border province.

On August 18, 40 Vietnamese nationals, 35 males and five females, were arrested by An Giang border guards after swimming across Binh Di River to illegally enter Vietnam from Cambodia.

According to their testimony, they had escaped from a casino in Cambodia where they claimed they were constantly forced to work overtime without any payment.

The victims told the police that through social networks and acquaintances, they were lured to Cambodia to work, with the promise of “easy work, high salary”.

They said they were, however, “very shocked” when starting the jobs, claiming every day, they were forced to go online to lure people to charge money into online accounts for gambling.

Chou Bun Eng, Ministry of Interior secretary of state and permanent vice-chairwoman of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), said the police are still investigating the case, but she has not yet received specific information on whether it is related to human trafficking or fraud case.

“We cannot conclude from one source and summarise the results, we must conduct a proper investigation and based on the law. We are trying to solve the problem of human trafficking to the lowest level because it is an issue that we have to worry about,” she said.

Moeun Tola, Executive Director of the Centre for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights (Central), said that he has not studied this case in depth, but there is no different from the case in Preah Sihanouk province. He urged professional officers to study clearly to take action according to the law.

Cambodia is currently under intense scrutiny by the international community on human rights issues, human trafficking and human rights abuses. In particular, the United States is focusing heavily on Cambodia, he said.

“The Cambodian authorities must take timely action by enforcing the law on the opening of gambling and other online businesses to restore national prestige,” Tola added.

On August 18, one Chinese casino manager and 11 Vietnamese workers have been arrested by the General Department of Immigration in regarding to a case of 45 workers and a Vietnamese who died fleeing from Golden Phoenix Entertainment Casino.

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