A Phnom Penh Municipal court judge yesterday sentenced three Taiwanese nationals to two years in prison for their roles in an online extortion ring.

Cheng Cheng, 52, will serve one year of the sentence and pay a fine of two million riel ($500), while the other two, Lin Hong Yu, 36, and Thang He Li, 31, will serve 10 months and pay the same fine before all three are deported, Judge Chaing Sinath said.

“I decided to expel them from Cambodia and prohibit them from re-entering the country after they have completed their sentences,” Sinath said.

The three were convicted of taking part in a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) scam, which involves calling a consumer from an ostensibly local telephone number. The scammers then use various techniques – including threatening the victims – to pressure or trick them into sending money.

The three were arrested between June 7 and 8 at separate rental villas in the capital.