Malaysians Rescued from Myanmar Job Scams Reveal Horrific

Malaysians Rescued from Myanmar Job Scams Reveal Horrific Ordeal: “I Was Electrocuted and Tortured Weekly”

In a harrowing account of survival, Malaysians rescued from job scam syndicates in Myanmar have shared their traumatic experiences, detailing torture, electrocution, and forced labor. One victim, a 45-year-old man from Johor who wished to be identified only as Teo, revealed that he was lured by a fake job offer in Thailand, only to be trafficked into Myanmar and subjected to unimaginable abuse.

Teo recounted being electrocuted more than 10 times and tortured almost weekly during his captivity. “I was held in their so-called office, forced to work long hours, and punished severely if I failed to meet their demands,” he said. Teo was deceived in August 2023 by a Facebook advertisement promising a lucrative translation job in Bangkok with a monthly salary of RM7,000. The ad claimed the role required only a one-week stay in Thailand. However, upon arriving at Bangkok airport, Teo was transported for six hours, transferred between vehicles three times, and eventually taken to Mae Sot near the Thai-Myanmar border. From there, he was forced to cross into Myanmar and coerced into working as a scammer.

For 14 hours a day, Teo was made to sort through approximately 10,000 phone numbers for the syndicate. His only compensation was a meager living allowance of 5,000 baht for the first three months. Attempting to escape or failing to meet daily targets resulted in brutal punishments.

Another victim, 29-year-old Mohd Shahidan (not his real name) from Kuala Lumpur, shared a similar story. Tasked with finding phone numbers on social media, he was required to initiate 70 individual chats daily. Falling short of this target led to electrocution and caning. “The punishments were relentless. It felt like there was no way out,” Shahidan said.

A 19-year-old woman from Penang, known only as Ong, was also deceived by a man posing as a Taiwanese recruiter. He promised her a high-paying job in Thailand, but instead, she was trafficked into Myanmar without travel documents. “We were caned, forced to do push-ups, or locked in a dark room if we didn’t meet the scam company’s targets,” Ong recalled.

Teo, Shahidan, and Ong are among 15 Malaysians recently rescued from job scam syndicates in Myawaddy, Myanmar. They were part of a group of 261 foreign victims transferred to Thailand on February 12 for deportation. The Malaysian Embassy in Thailand is now collaborating with Thai authorities to expedite the victims’ travel documentation and ensure their safe return home.

These shocking accounts highlight the dangers of falling prey to fake job offers and the urgent need for greater awareness and enforcement to combat human trafficking syndicates.

Source: The Star