Anti-terrorism police on Friday found at least 40 more Chinese nationals holed up in a Phnom Penh condo where authorities had earlier arrested about 200 Chinese men and women in an alleged extortion scheme using internet technology, officials said.
“The police broke into one of the big rooms on the 11th floor when they were searching for equipment,” said Khat Khuntith, commune chief of Boeng Kak II. “Some of them were hiding in the toilet.”
Thou Saroeun, deputy director of the Interior Ministry’s anti-terrorism department, said the discovery in Tuol Kak district was unexpected. “When we are looking for the equipment, we got a clue of other Chinese suspects hiding on 11th floor in same condo,” he said.
Mr. Saroeun previously said 225 Chinese nationals had been arrested on Wednesday as police continued to crack down on those suspected of defrauding people in China using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.
The operation involved extorting women in China after persuading them to send nude photographs of themselves, an official said earlier this month.
Also earlier this month, 200 Chinese nationals were arrested in Poipet City for their alleged involvement in the same type of scam.
Uk Heisela, chief of investigation of the ministry’s immigration department, said Friday that about 200 Chinese men and women suspected of involvement in the scam were to be deported to China on Wednesday. They remained in detention on Friday in Siem Reap.
