Wangsa Maju MP: Detained M'sian freed by Cambodian syndicate

PKR's Wangsa Maju MP Tan Yee Kew said that a 37-year-old Malaysian, believed to have been detained by a Cambodian syndicate, was freed following widespread coverage of his case in the media.

On March 30, Tan told the media that complainant Wong Choon Ling had received a call from her son, Lai, who said he was trapped in Cambodia and forced by a syndicate to commit online fraud or pay RM20,000 to be allowed to return to Malaysia.

“I received a call from Madam Wong who happily told me that her son had been released by the Cambodian fraud syndicate around 8pm on Friday and is now quarantined at home,” said Tan in a statement.

She said that according to Wong, when the news was reported in the media the syndicate boss  immediately released her son the next day.

“Lai was told to go to the police to close the case after returning to Malaysia.

“I have already informed the police about his return and will arrange for him to go to the police station to give a statement after he is out of quarantine,” said Tan. 

Lai, who has a wife and a young son, had worked as an announcer at a nightclub in Kuala Lumpur but had lost his job during the movement control order (MCO).

Last October, he met with an employment agent who allegedly offered him a job as a clerk in Cambodia with a lucrative salary of RM4,000 a month.

However, upon arrival, he found himself forced to commit online fraud for money, with the syndicate also demanding ransom money from the victims if they wanted to be freed.

Last month, Utusan Malaysia also reported that several Malaysians are believed to be stranded in Myanmar after being scammed by employment agents since last January. - Mkini