Taipei: A Taiwanese man who allegedly lured more than 10 people into working for a fraud ring in Cambodia has been arrested in Vietnam and repatriated to Taiwan, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said Tuesday. The 21-year-old suspect, surnamed Fan, was identified as a recruitment leader for a Cambodian fraud syndicate that deceived Taiwanese nationals into the country through fake job advertisements, explained CIB International Criminal Affairs Division captain Chen Ssu-han at a press conference.

According to Focus Taiwan, Fan traveled to Cambodia in 2022 and participated in telecom fraud operations, eventually becoming a core member of the group. Rescued victims informed Taiwanese authorities that Fan also acted as an enforcer, punishing those who disobeyed orders by beating them or forcing them to do push-ups or carry heavy buckets. Even pregnant victims were reportedly subjected to similar treatment, stated Chen.

Victims who wished to leave were allegedly coerced into paying ransoms of US$5,000 or more. The syndicate, which Fan was a part of, was dismantled in 2023, leading to him being wanted by five district prosecutors' offices on suspicion of human trafficking. In an effort to evade capture, Fan reportedly fled across Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos, according to the CIB.

Fan was captured by Vietnamese authorities in July while attempting to enter the country illegally. After negotiations by the CIB's liaison office in Vietnam, local officials consented to allow Taiwanese officers to escort him back to Taiwan on September 24, as reported by Chen. Following his return, Fan has been placed in detention after a request from prosecutors was approved by the court.