Probe into Cambodia jobs scam ongoing, says S’wak CID chief

KUCHING: The Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is still compiling all the necessary information to ascertain if there are elements of human trafficking involved in the recent Cambodia jobs scam.

Sarawak CID chief SAC Denis Leong Soon Kuai said they have opened up some investigations and interviewing those who were detained.

“We are still compiling (information) because some of them have been over there (Cambodia) before. When we talk about human trafficking, this thing does not match,” said Leong in a press conference at the Kuching District Police headquarters yesterday.

Leong added that at the moment, the main investigation was being handled by the Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department ( CCID) which has arrested and remanded three individuals in connection with

We are still compiling (information) because some of them have been over there (Cambodia) before. When we talk about human trafficking, this thing does not match. SAC Denis Leong Soon Kuai, Sarawak CID chief

the case.

He revealed that early investigations by the CID showed that some of those detained at the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison, Cambodia had been to the country before.

“Some are not first timers. Some had been there a couple of times before. That is why we have to complete our inquiry to see if human trafficking is involved,” he added.

The Sarawak CID, he added, will try to wrap up the inquiry in a couple of weeks upon which the decision to arrest any suspects will be made.

Earlier, he witnessed the handing- over of duties between outgoing Kuching police chief ACP Ng Ah Lek to his deputy Supt Ismail Mahmood who will take over as acting OCPD starting today ( March 1).

Meanwhile, the CCID has extended the remand order against a 35-year- old suspect for three days until March 3 in connection with the scam case involving 47 Malaysians, of whom 40 are Sarawakians.

The order to extend the remand on the suspect was approved by Magistrate Faelly Jeffrey Lanjungan yesterday. Prior to the extension, the suspect was under remand for four days.

The suspect was the first to be arrested on Feb 23 followed by another two suspects – a male and a female both 35 years old – on Feb 24 at different locations in Kuching.

Meanwhile, the remand order for the second and third suspects expires today ( March 1).