A group of 59 South Koreans detained in Cambodia for alleged involvement in online scams has been repatriated in handcuffs.
The group arrived at Incheon Airport yesterday morning, several days after South Korea sent a team to Cambodia to discuss scam centre kidnappings of its nationals.
They are among around 200,000 people estimated by the UN to have been drawn into scamming schemes across Southeast Asia, some lured by the appeal of well-paying jobs and others forced to participate.
Officials made the journey to Cambodia following reports that a South Korean student involved in a scamming scheme had allegedly died after being tortured, according to Reuters news agency.
Another five South Koreans have also been deported for other criminal offences.
BBC Korea has reported that the majority of the group were arrested during a crackdown by Cambodian authorities, while five reportedly turned themselves in and escaped the network.
Source : BBC
