Zhang’s story began with a hopeful promise—a job in Phnom Penh that would provide him with a better life. However, upon his arrival at Junyiwang Real Estate Property Management Co.Ltd (Sanction in UK for violating human rights). The reality was far from what he expected. Instead of an office desk, Zhang was taken to a scam center where he was forced to participate in online fraud. In shock, Zhang reached out to the company’s management to ask if he could pay a ransom to leave. His request was denied. The company informed him that, as a Chinese national, he was part of the operation, and they had already paid an agent fee to bring him there.
Unable to escape, Zhang sought help from his father, who, in turn, reached out to a fellow businessman for assistance. This connection led to GASO (Global Anti-Scam Organization) stepping in and working with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) to rescue Zhang from the scam center.
Zhang’s story reveals not only the horrors of being forced into scam operations but also highlights a significant shift in how victims of such exploitation have been treated in Cambodia in recent years—raising important questions about the treatment of victims and the effectiveness of rescue procedures.
Questioning the Police’s Actions
One of the most unsettling parts of Zhang’s ordeal occurred when the Cambodian police first contacted the scam center by phone before arriving at the location. Zhang was puzzled—why did the police call ahead? This phone call gave the criminals in the scam center a chance to prepare and potentially avoid detection.
When the police finally arrived, Zhang was summoned into a small room by the company’s employees, who slapped and hit him while demanding he pay $8,500. During this ordeal, Zhang repeatedly contacted his father, pleading with him to pay the ransom demanded by the scam center. However, fortunately for them, our members intervened and accompanied the father through the process. They strongly advised against paying the ransom, emphasizing that doing so would only perpetuate the cycle of exploitation. This wasn’t the first time GASO had dealt with such situations. Their experience and determination played a critical role in ensuring Zhang’s safety without further enabling the scam networks.
What puzzled him most was the behavior of the police—they appeared to be waiting outside while he was being physically threatened. It felt like a profound betrayal. If the police were meant to protect him, why did they allow the abuse to continue before taking any action? Zhang couldn’t help but question the motives and integrity of those who were supposed to ensure his safety.
The following outlines the standard procedure that victims often go through after their rescue and the harsh realities they face in Cambodia.
1. The Initial Step: Detention at the Police Station
Once a victim is rescued from a scam center or forced labor situation, the first stop in the process is the local police station. Here, victims are typically detained for a period of 20 days. During this time, they are interviewed and their statements are recorded, but they are not released immediately. The reason for this prolonged detention is unclear, and victims are often left to wait in a limbo of uncertainty and frustration.
Zhang, like many other victims, was subjected to this process, and it left him confused and anxious. He had already endured immense trauma, yet instead of being offered support and assistance, he was treated as if he were part of the criminal operation. As a victim, Zhang expected to be treated with care and urgency, but the bureaucracy only served to heighten his distress.
2. The Final Destination: Immigration Detention
After their time at the police station, victims are then moved to an immigration center, typically located opposite the airport. Here, the process becomes even more harrowing. The immigration center serves as a holding facility where victims can be detained for anywhere from three to six months, depending on their nationality. This extended detention period is particularly troubling for victims who are already traumatized and eager to return home.
3. Blacklisted (Three Years)
This blacklisting comes as an unexpected and unfair punishment, especially considering that they are victims of human trafficking, forced labor, or scams. Instead of being offered support or protection, these victims are labeled as undesirable and are prohibited from entering Cambodia for a period of three years.
Zhang, who was desperate to return home and put the ordeal behind him, was stunned to learn that he, along with other victims, was now officially banned from entering Cambodia for the next three years. This additional punishment is a harsh reminder that in Cambodia’s system, victims are often treated like criminals.
The Shift in Victim Treatment After August 2022
Before August 2022, victims of scams and forced labor in Cambodia were typically allowed to record their statements and were then released immediately by the police. However, after the introduction of new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in August 2022, this changed drastically. Victims were no longer released after providing their statements. Instead, they were detained in immigration centers for up to six months, regardless of their status as victims.
For Zhang, the reality of being treated as a criminal was hard to bear. He had been coerced into committing crimes, yet he found himself imprisoned and waiting for months before he could go home. It was during this time in the immigration center that Zhang learned just how corrupt and broken the system truly was.
Corruption and Exploitation Inside the Immigration Center
Inside the immigration center, Zhang’s experience took an even darker turn. He overheard stories from other victims, some of whom had been trapped in the system for months. But what shocked him most was the rampant corruption and exploitation that seemed to control the entire process.
Zhang learned that there were fugitives—individuals who had been part of the scam operations—actively trying to manipulate the system. They would reach out to outsiders and offer to "negotiate" their release, asking for a price to be paid. It was clear that as long as you had money, you could bypass the rules and secure your freedom. The idea that money could allow someone to do anything, including manipulating the process of victim protection, shook Zhang to his core.
Some victims, desperate to escape the prolonged detention, were forced to pay bribes to those who had the power to expedite their release. Zhang heard about individuals paying anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 to speed up their paperwork and leave the immigration center sooner. Those who couldn’t afford these fees were left behind, stuck in the center for months, with no clear timeline for their departure.
Zhang was particularly disturbed by the way the immigration officers treated victims. Many of the officers seemed indifferent to the suffering of those detained. In some cases, they were actively complicit in the exploitation, allowing the system of bribery to thrive.
“Why Was I Locked Up? I Am a Victim.”
Zhang could not help but ask himself, “Why was I locked up? I am a victim.” He had been tricked, coerced, and forced into illegal activities, yet he was being treated like a criminal. The shift in procedures after August 2022 had turned his rescue into yet another form of imprisonment. Zhang’s frustration grew as he heard more stories from fellow victims—many of whom were in the same situation, detained in the immigration center and left to wonder when they would be allowed to go home.
The stories he heard from others highlighted a recurring theme: as long as you had money, you could bypass the system. Victims with financial resources could pay their way out, while those without money were left to suffer. The idea of justice and protection seemed to be a farce when money ruled the process. Zhang felt betrayed by a system that was supposed to protect him but instead treated him with indifference and even facilitated exploitation.
The Systematic Problems of Corruption and Inequality
Zhang’s experience inside the immigration center reflects a much larger problem within Cambodia’s system for handling victims of forced labor and human trafficking. While the introduction of the new SOP was intended to streamline procedures, it has inadvertently created a system that punishes victims for their exploitation. The prolonged detention period, combined with corruption and bribery, has left many victims feeling trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare.
The issue of bribery and corruption within the immigration system is particularly concerning. The fact that victims of forced labor and scams can be bought and sold for a price only deepens the exploitation they have already suffered. It’s a reality that many victims, including Zhang, are forced to navigate.
Zhang’s question, “Why was I locked up? I am a victim,” is a question that resonates deeply with those trapped in similar situations, as they too find themselves fighting not only for their freedom but for their dignity.
Zhang’s experience was further complicated by a disturbing aspect of the immigration process: discriminatory treatment based on nationality. He overheard an officer say, “Chinese are all scammers, they should be locked up as long as possible.” This statement reflects a broader issue of bias and racism that victims face, particularly those from countries like China, who are often stereotyped as being involved in scam operations.
The harsh treatment of Chinese nationals, as exemplified by this officer’s comment, illustrates how the system fails to differentiate between criminals and victims. For Zhang and other Chinese nationals, the detention process became even more grueling, as they were treated as potential criminals simply because of their nationality, despite being victims of exploitation themselves.
The Need for Reform: Protecting Victims, Not Punishing Them
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