Nepal and Cambodia Agree to Cooperate on Online Fraud and Transnational Crime Control

Kathmandu. An agreement has been reached between Nepal and Cambodia to cooperate in controlling online fraud and other transnational crimes. 

Such an agreement was reached during a meeting between Dhan Bahadur Oli, the Nepali Ambassador to Thailand who also oversees Cambodia, and Eit Sofia, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia. 

A Nepali official present at the high-level meeting stated that Bangladeshi and Chinese citizens are being arrested in Nepal who are preparing to operate 'scam centers' similar to those in Cambodia. Ambassador Oli and Sofia have agreed to cooperate in controlling human trafficking, online scams, cybercrime, and other transnational crimes. 

It is suspected that Nepali citizens have also ended up in scam centers in Cambodia. The Nepali Embassy in Bangkok has called on 602 individuals who went to Cambodia for various purposes and whose visas have expired to return to their home country. 

The embassy issued a notice on Sunday, making public the names of 66 individuals who will face legal penalties if they do not return immediately, as the Cambodian government has waived their visa fees and fines. The Nepali Embassy has stated that it has rescued 300 Nepali citizens who were taken to work in scam centers so far. 

Ambassador Oli expressed gratitude to the Cambodian government for its assistance in rescuing Nepali citizens from addresses involved in online scams. He said at the meeting, 'The crimes of a few individuals involved in illegal activities should not be the perspective through which the entire Nepali community is viewed.' 

Meanwhile, in Cambodia's Kampong Cham province, an eye camp was organized in coordination with the Nepal Netrajyoti Sangh, Lumbini Eye Hospital and Research Center, Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Cambodia, and the Nepali Embassy. 

Nepali officials say that the comprehensive free eye treatment camp, including cataract screening, has presented an excellent example of Nepal's 'health diplomacy' in Cambodia. 

Thousands of patients received specialist services from the eye camp held on July 4 and 5. Former President of NRNA Cambodia and current Asia-Pacific Regional DRC Lal Singh Khadka, President of NRNA South Sudan Ramprasad Padhya, and President of NRNA Cambodia Shiv Parajuli played important roles in making the program successful.