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BANGKOK – Thai police arrested the suspected mastermind of a job scam syndicate in Myanmar, while stepping up a manhunt to locate other suspects involved, including a Malaysian.
Thai police’s Jirabhop Bhuridej said the 33-year-old businessman from China was believed to be behind a syndicate that lured jobseekers, especially Thais, to work at the border town of Myawaddy in Myanmar.
He was arrested in Bangkok yesterday.
He said the initial investigation found the syndicate lured jobseekers by promising high-paying jobs in Mae Sot in Thailand’s Tak province but victims were instead forced to cross the border to Myawaddy to work as scammers.
“Thai police started the investigation last year. We issued arrest warrants for 19 individuals including 11 Thais, Chinese (three), Myanmar (three), one Malaysian, and one Filipino.
“To date, we have arrested seven Thai and one Chinese national (mastermind),” he said.
Meanwhile, Thai police’s Man Menyam said they started the investigation after seven Thais who fell victim to job scams were rescued in Mae Sot.
He said the victims – including five women who were lured to work in Myawaddy – were punished and beaten when they failed to hit targets set by their supervisors, a Malaysian and Filipino.
“The victims safely returned home after family members paid a ransom of 50,000 baht (RM6,209) each,” he said.
He added that the victims later lodged reports at Thai police’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division. – Bernama, October 31, 2022
