Several suspects repatriated from Cambodia for their involvement in criminal operations, including fraud, were found to have made coordinated false statements to Korean authorities, with some even providing fake personal information, police said.

The suspects allegedly took part in operations such as investment chat room scams targeting Korean nationals and voice phishing schemes, and received a share of the profits. Police believe the Cambodia-based criminal network had a Korean national at the top of its hierarchy.

Many of the suspects are under investigation by the South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency, which uncovered evidence of organized deception. Investigators found that the suspects were instructed by a ring leader to lie about how they entered Cambodia.

Investigators said the ring leader instructed detained members to pay $500 to Cambodian police in exchange for having their mobile phones wiped, to leave those phones behind in detention if they were repatriated and to tell Korean authorities that the devices had been confiscated.

Further instructions included claiming to have been caught while looking for part-time work at a furniture factory and denying all criminal allegations. The ring leader allegedly told members that arrangements would be made with the Cambodian police for their release, and that they would be able to return to work at an office in Sihanoukville.

Multiple suspects made these same claims during interviews with Korean consular officers...

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