Cambodia deports 13 Taiwanese telecoms fraud suspects to China

[geovalin]

Cambodia has deported 13 Taiwanese nationals suspected of telecoms fraud to China, the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing has said, ignoring protests from Taiwan asking the Southeast Asian country not to proceed. The public security ministry said on Tuesday 50 Chinese nationals were also sent back with the Taiwanese deportees.

 

They were all arrested in a Cambodian police raid in Phnom Penh and suspected of committing internet and phone extortion fraud. Such scams have cost billions of dollars and driven some victims to suicide. Cambodia, one of China's closest allies, does not have official relations with self-ruled Taiwan. It treats the island as part of "one China" in line with Beijing, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province.

 

Uk Heisela, a senior official in Cambodia's immigration department, confirmed the deportations and said Taiwan had not been in touch with Phnom Penh over the case. "All victims are in China," he said.

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-cambodia-taiwan-idUSKCN11R07H?il=0