Battambang authorities on Sunday sent a suspected people smuggler to court as a result of an ongoing investigation, the provincial anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection deputy police chief Ros Chivy told The Post on Sunday.
Forty-three-year-old Hun Kolab, from Bavel district’s Khnach Romeas commune, was arrested by the Interior Ministry and provincial police on Friday, as per the court’s warrant number 2 dated January 10.
The suspect had allegedly smuggled many people into Thailand, she said, and confirmed that “We have enough evidence that led to this arrest.”
If the suspect is found guilty, Chivy said, she might be charged with “Unlawful Removal with Purpose”.
The offence is punishable with seven to 20 years of imprisonment, in violation of Article 10 of the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation.
Chivy noted that the authorities are investigating many other people suspected of illicit activity. She also said it had been going on since 2016 and victims from Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Kampong Speu provinces had already been deceived
Pak You Leang, the deputy director of the Interior Ministry’s Department of Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection, told The Post on Sunday that Kolab’s arrest was made after the victims reported that they had been lied to by the suspect, who told them that they would be working on a fishing boat.
“We investigated this case for about two months after receiving complaints from the victims. We are collecting more evidence to study this case further and find other suspects,” You Leang said.
The spokesman for the Battambang provincial court, Seng Phanith, could not be reached for additional comment by The Post on Sunday .