A gaming establishment administrator of Chinese origin in Cambodia is facing arrest for suspected involuntary servitude. This development comes after accounts surfaced of 42 Vietnamese citizens escaping the casino, alleging they endured circumstances comparable to contemporary enslavement.

General Chuon Vanthan, a representative for the Cambodian immigration agency, informed local news outlets that a unit was deployed to the Golden Phoenix Entertainment Casino on Koh Rong, situated in Preah Sihanouk province. There, they apprehended the administrator for interrogation. The administrator’s identity remains undisclosed.

The inquiry into the administrator commenced after the freed laborers swam across the Binh Di River (the natural boundary separating Vietnam and Cambodia) and returned to their homeland to provide testimony. Sadly, a 16-year-old male lost his life in the river during the escape attempt, while casino security recaptured another individual. Among the 40 who successfully fled, five were female, with the remaining being male.

Those who broke free asserted they were grossly undercompensated, receiving a mere $400 to $500 of their promised $800 monthly wages. They further alleged they were denied rest periods during their work shifts.

Although the casino administrator conceded to “compelling the group to work against their wishes,” they countered by claiming the workers were indebted to the company.

It is noteworthy that none of the casino employees possessed valid passports, let alone the necessary visas to be employed in Cambodia.

An Giang Province Police Chief, Dinh Van Noi, stated that individuals reported being tricked into a plan that illegally transported more than 2,000 Vietnamese nationals to Cambodian gambling establishments under deceptive claims. Employees were guaranteed well-paying positions, but instead, they arrived to discover themselves confined in abusive circumstances. They were made to labor without fair wages and endured intimidation and physical harm. To go back to Vietnam, the gaming venues required payments of up to $30,000. Fortunately, collaborative operations between Vietnamese and Cambodian officials effectively liberated over 250 of these individuals in the initial six months of 2021.