Over 50 Vietnamese flee Cambodia casino

Authorities in the southern province of Tay Ninh, home to Moc Bai, confirmed that at around 2 p.m., 56 Vietnamese people working in a casino in Bavet Town in Svay Rieng ran from the casino to the main road towards the Moc Bai border gate due to “work disagreements.”

But Cambodian police held this group back for investigation.

“The province has sent forces to coordinate with Cambodian authorities to protect Vietnamese citizens and clarify the case,” a Tay Ninh official said.

A one-minute-long video recorded by local people shows the group fleeing from the casino under heavy rain. There were many people in black uniforms chasing after them. Some young men and women fell and were beaten and arrested by these people.

The escape was the second major one by Vietnamese workers in Cambodia reported the past month.

On August 18, border guards in Vietnam’s An Giang Province that borders Cambodia detained 40 people who illegally entered Vietnam after swimming across the Binh Di River to escape from the Phoenix casino in Cambodia.

One of two other people who had also attempted to escape – a teenage boy – drowned in the river, while another was captured by the casino people.

The Vietnamese said they were held at the casino against their will and subjected to torture.

Authorities have so far rescued over 500 Vietnamese citizens and supported thousands of others in Cambodia with procedures to return.

In the first half of this year, the Ministry of Public Security has busted several rings smuggling people to Cambodia for illegal work.