SARIKEI: Two cousins from Sarikei have tragically fallen victim to human trafficking and forced labour in Myanmar, as part of a syndicate’s elaborate scam, joining other Malaysian citizens in a dire situation.
Awang Arfian Awang Bujang, the esteemed Superintendent of Sarikei District Police, shed light on this distressing matter after receiving a report from a concerned woman at approximately 12:43 pm on September 21.
The woman, who is related to the victims, received a heart-wrenching WhatsApp message from her 29-year-old sister and 35-year-old cousin, who are currently residing in Myanmar. In their correspondence, they revealed the harrowing mistreatment endured by themselves and fellow Malaysians at the hands of their unscrupulous employers.
“The sister of the complainant travelled to Thailand last July, while her cousin departed in June, both enticed by job offers flaunting attractive salaries on Facebook,” explained Awang Arfian.
“After accepting the offers, they were subsequently transported to Myanmar by agents. Unfortunately, they were never informed of the nature of the work awaiting them,” he added.
To make matters worse, their employers confiscated their identification cards and passports, leaving them trapped and powerless.
Moreover, the victims were coerced into participating in fraudulent activities, and failure to meet the specified goals resulted in severe penalties, abuse, and even being traded between different agents. They were subjected to further anguish as they were forced to consume non-halal food against their beliefs.
In light of this distressing incident, Awang Arfian urged the public to exercise caution when encountering job opportunities on social media platforms, especially those that tempt with enticing salaries abroad.
It is crucial to scrutinize these offers thoroughly before making any decisions that could potentially lead to such dire circumstances.
