KBRN, Jakarta: The plight of hundreds of Indonesian citizens allegedly ensnared in online scam syndicates in Cambodia has drawn urgent calls for government intervention. Around 600 Indonesians are believed to be victims of human trafficking schemes disguised as online fraud and illegal gambling operations, raising alarm over their safety and fundamental rights.

Lawmaker Oleh Soleh of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) urged the government on Monday, December 29, 2025, to take concrete steps to secure their release and repatriation. He stressed that the issue cannot be underestimated, as it directly concerns the lives and dignity of Indonesian nationals abroad.

“The government must be present and act quickly. About 600 Indonesians remain trapped in Cambodia. This is a serious matter and cannot be allowed to drag on,” Soleh said in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.

Soleh specifically urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify diplomatic efforts with Cambodian authorities to free the victims. He emphasized that diplomatic channels must be maximized to ensure the repatriation process is realized without delay.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must conduct diplomacy intensively and earnestly to secure their release. The safety of Indonesian citizens is the responsibility of the state,” he added.

Beyond diplomacy, Soleh highlighted the need for cross-agency coordination involving the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Manpower, the police, and other relevant institutions to ensure the repatriation process is swift and well-organized.

“It cannot be handled by just one ministry. There must be inter-agency coordination so that the repatriation can be carried out thoroughly and effectively,” he said.

He also warned that online scams represent a form of organized transnational crime that has already victimized many Indonesians. In addition to repatriation, Soleh called for stronger preventive measures to stop similar cases from recurring.

“Many Indonesians have fallen victim to online scams. This must be taken seriously by the state, both in terms of citizen protection and preventing transnational crime,” he noted.

Earlier, Brigadier General Moh. Irhamni, Director of Certain Crimes at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri), confirmed that 600 Indonesians remain trapped in Cambodia as victims of trafficking linked to online scams and gambling operations.

The police, through its Labor Desk, have coordinated with the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh and pledged to work with ministries, agencies, and other stakeholders to facilitate the victims’ return.

“We hope that the data on these 600 individuals will be complete: where they come from, their conditions there, and where they are working,” Irhamni said.

He added that the police have also coordinated with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to push for law enforcement against perpetrators operating in Cambodia.

“We have coordinated with the Foreign Affairs Minister to encourage Cambodian law enforcement to take action there, so that we can focus on prosecuting those who recruited them in Indonesia,” Irhamni explained. ***