8-5-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Two individuals, victims of a harrowing job scam, have finally returned to Malaysia after enduring six months of coercion into online scam operations in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
For a 29-year-old man from Sarawak, identified only as Lau, the nightmare commenced towards the end of last year. Recounting his ordeal, Lau revealed that he had been lured by a lucrative job offer purportedly from a bank in Thailand, advertised through Facebook.
“I had been employed in Singapore for six years when I stumbled upon the enticing offer, promising monthly earnings exceeding RM15,000,” Lau shared with reporters upon his arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Tuesday (May 7) night.
Buoyed by the promise of a substantial income, Lau eagerly made arrangements to travel to Thailand. However, upon reaching Thailand, he was redirected to Myanmar, where the grim reality of his situation dawned upon him.
“It wasn’t until I reached Myanmar that I realised the gravity of the situation,” Lau recounted, disclosing that the syndicate coerced him into participating in fraudulent activities. Initially resistant, Lau endured three days of captivity, deprived of sustenance and subjected to physical abuse until capitulating to the syndicate’s demands.
Reflecting on his ordeal, Lau noted a decline in the presence of Malaysian nationals within these criminal operations, attributing it to the syndicate’s aversion towards potential complications arising from Malaysian involvement.
Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim, the secretary-general of Malaysia International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO), shed light on Lau and another victim, Ting, 26, detailing their six-month captivity under the syndicate’s control in Myawaddy, Myanmar. Both victims were compelled to pay US$2,000 (RM9,480) each to secure their release.
Following their liberation, MHO swiftly intervened, facilitating their repatriation. Subsequently, the victims were flown to Bangkok, Thailand, and handed over to Thai Immigration authorities for further processing. However, both Lau and Ting were detained in Thailand for 14 days before being granted permission to return home.
