Tay Ninh (VNA) – The People’s Court of the southern province of Tay Ninh and the Courts of First Instance of the three Cambodian provinces of Tboung Khmum, Prey Veng and Svay Rieng exchanged experience in adjudication work and crime prevention at a conference held in the Vietnamese locality on December 6.

The event also aimed at strengthening mutual understanding and promoting the robust friendship, contributing to the close bonds and solidarity tradition between the two countries’ people.

Deputy Chief Justice of the Tay Ninh People’s Court Vo Van Ngau said the court handled a significant case involving two Cambodian citizens for illegal currency transportation across the border this year. It also tackled a fraudulent appropriation of property with 38 Vietnamese travelling to Svay Rieng to work for disguised Chinese companies, conducting online scams that resulted in more than 5 billion VND (nearly 197,000 USD) stolen from 19 victims.

Meanwhile, Cambodian judicial representatives shared detailed insight into cross-border criminal activities, with Svay Rieng processing 79 criminal cases related to illegal drug trading, theft, illegal weapons possession and murder, among others, involving Vietnamese citizens. Prey Veng province reported 20 cases involving Vietnamese people, primarily related to drug possession, assault, theft, and illegal fishing.

They highlighted challenges in handling cases with foreign defendants such as language barriers, shortage of bilingual Vietnamese-Khmer lawyers, and tracking defendants who flee across borders.

At the meeting, the Tay Ninh People’s Court signed cooperation agreements with the three Cambodian courts to enhance judicial cooperation efficiency in combating drug-related crimes, human trafficking, and protecting the rights of victims through adjudication activities in the localities sharing the borderline with Tay Ninh province. They will also share information about criminal activities and work together to promote legal knowledge among residents in border areas.

ꦿ Tay Ninh province shares nearly 240 kilometers of border with the three Cambodian localities, featuring three international border gates and multiple crossings. While facilitating trade and cultural exchange, these routes also present challenges for law enforcement as they create opportunities for criminal activities, particularly smuggling and drug-related crimes./.