Three Cambodians and one Sri Lankan have been arrested by Phnom Penh immigration police for their alleged involvement in forging foreign visas for Chinese nationals passing through Cambodia on their way to third countries.
The four were arrested following the discovery in August of two Chinese nationals who attempted to enter France with fake entry visas that were apparently issued at the French Embassy in Phnom Penh, Pol Phiethey, municipal immigration police chief, said Thursday.
Investigations into the scam began after the two Chinese nationals, who claim they paid $5,500 for the fake visas, were deported back to Phnom Penh by French immigration police.
Cambodians Man Viki, 28, Thea Nhi, 32, and Ung Kheing, 57, were arrested in two police raids in Phnom Penh over the past 10 days while Sri Lankan Mahesh Fernando, 29, was arrested Wednesday, Pol Phiethey said.
The Cambodians are accused of running the forgery operation and the Sri Lankan is accused of providing the forgers with the used French entry visa which was doctored to appear valid.
Although the current case is the only one linked to the group, Pol Phiethey said their expertise shows they were professionals.
“I think this is their business and they could have done more [forgeries]. But we need evidence of this,” Pol Phiethey said.
Last week five illegal Chinese immigrants were discovered in a Phnom Penh hotel by immigration police. Their arrest on charges they entered Cambodia illegally ended a 10-month lull in arrests linked to Chinese smuggling operations in Cambodia.
More than 600 illegal Chinese immigrants were arrested in raids on villas and hotels in Phnom Penh and Kandal province late last year after Phnom Penh Governor Chea Sophara vowed to stop Cambodia from being used as a hub for human smuggling in the region.
Chea Sophara and two Ministry of Interior officials said the trafficking ring was operated by Chinese gangsters with the assistance of high-level Cambodian officials.
