Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh has reported a sharp increase in the deaths of Indonesian nationals in Cambodia during the first quarter of 2025, with fatalities rising 75% compared to the same period last year.
According to an official statement released Thursday, the embassy handled 28 deaths of Indonesian citizens between January and March. Citing police and hospital records, the embassy noted that the leading causes of death among Indonesians in Cambodia were strokes and heart disease, accounting for 11 cases.
Other causes included:
- Diabetes and kidney/liver failure: 5 cases
- Tuberculosis and other lung diseases: 2 cases
- Cancer, epilepsy, dengue fever, and other internal disorders: 4 cases
- HIV, AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases: 3 cases
- Accidents, including traffic-related incidents: 3 cases
Beyond fatalities, the Indonesian Embassy also reported a dramatic spike in the number of distress cases involving Indonesian citizens. The embassy handling 1,301 cases in the first three months of 2025, marking a 174% increase from the same period in 2024.
From the total cases, 1,112 cases or 85% were linked to online scam activities, where Indonesians are often both the perpetrators and the victims, targeting fellow citizens. Compared to early 2024, online scam cases involving Indonesians surged by 263%, rising from 306 to 1,112 cases.
The remaining cases dealt with civil disputes, labor issues, and immigration problems across various business and industrial sectors.
Read Also:
Over 80,000 Illegal Indonesian Migrant Workers in Cambodia, Employed in Online Gambling and Scamming
Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia, Santo Darmosumarto noted that many of Indonesian nationals lured by misleading job offers in Cambodia, promising high salaries, light work, attractive facilities, and minimal requirements.
According to Cambodia’s immigration authorities, more than 131,000 Indonesians were legally residing and working in Cambodia in 2024. Many of those involved in online scams had been living in the country for more than six months, Ambassador Santo said.
“This disturbing trend shows that despite all the efforts to inform and warn, too many Indonesians are still falling into the trap of fake overseas job offers,” he added.
In response to the crisis, the embassy pledged to strengthen coordination with relevant agencies in Indonesia to improve prevention, enforcement, and victim support efforts.
Ambassador Santo also emphasized the urgent need for greater digital literacy and public awareness to protect Indonesian citizens from falling prey to fraudulent job schemes and cybercrimes.
“We must empower our people to recognize and avoid illegal job recruitment and online scams that are costing lives and livelihoods,” he stated.
(Raidi/Agung)
