Protecting Forced Offenders

This article examines the application of the non-punishment principle to victims of trafficking into scam centres in Southeast Asia. Since 2020, trafficking into scam centres has emerged as a significant form of trafficking in persons for forced criminality, where victims are coerced into perpetrating cyberfraud for their traffickers’ economic gain. The non-punishment principle asserts that victims of trafficking should not be penalised for crimes committed as a direct consequence of their exploitation. However, its implementation in Southeast Asia faces significant challenges: victims are often misidentified as willing criminals, while the substantial financial losses from cyberfraud lead authorities to exclude such offenses from the principle’s scope. Consequently, victims frequently face prosecution for money laundering and fraud upon returning to their home countries. Drawing on theoretical foundations of human rights, criminal responsibility, and punishment, this article argues for a comprehensive application of the non-punishment principle, regardless of crime severity. It demonstrates why traditional criminal defences, like duress, are inadequate, and argues for specific non-punishment provisions to protect victims trafficked into scam centres. The article concludes that effective responses require stronger legal and institutional frameworks, ensuring victims receive protection while maintaining focus on prosecuting the true masterminds of these crimes.