Law and Crime

Laos Arrests More Than 550 in August Scam Crackdown

Laos has detained more than 550 people in raids targeting online scams and illegal gambling operations so far in August, as authorities step up a nationwide crackdown that has now netted more than 1,100 suspects since mid-July. The latest figures come after a series of raids across Vientiane Capital and...

Laos Seizes Nearly 1.8 Tonnes of Suspected Ivory, Black Panther Remains in Bolikhamxay Raid

On 16 August, Lao authorities detained 11 foreign nationals in connection with a wildlife...

Vientiane Authorities Detain Nearly 400 in Cybercrime Raids in Early-to-Mid August

Vientiane authorities have detained nearly 400 suspects in three separate raids since the start...

Laos Authorities Arrest Four in Alleged Marriage Trafficking Network

On 23 July, Lao authorities arrested four people suspected of operating a human trafficking...

Police Detain 261 Foreign Nationals in Thatluang Lake SEZ Scam Raid

On 8 August, Vientiane police raided a telecommunications fraud and online gambling operation at...

Kenya and Taiwan Warn Citizens of Trafficking to Laos, Cambodia

Kenyans and Taiwanese are among the hundreds of people trafficked to Southeast Asia and forced to work for telecom scam networks based in Laos...

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak Jailed After Failed Appeal

Malaysia's former Prime Minister Najib Razak has been sent to prison to begin serving a 12-year sentence after the High Court rejected his appeal. Charges...

Singapore to Repeal Colonial-era Law Banning Sex Between Men

Singapore has stated that it will decriminalize sex between men by repealing a colonial-era law. Section 377A of Singapore's Penal Code, which bans sex between...

Lao Artist Reprimanded for Satirical Song

Tar Jed Hai, a Lao musician and comedian, has been reprimanded by authorities for creating a satirical version of a traditional wedding song.  Mr. Ta...

Husband Kills Wife in Luang Nam Tha Shooting

A 56-year-old husband shot and killed his wife at an up-land rice field hut in Kuisoung Village, Lae District, Luang Nam Tha Province, on 29...

Vietnam Orders Tech Firms to Store User Data Locally

Vietnam has ordered tech firms to store user data locally and establish local offices in a new move to tighten cybersecurity regulations. Reuters reports that...