KUCHING: Promises of lucrative salaries lured the 47 Malaysians, 44 of whom are from Sarawak, to work in Cambodia. They were promised a monthly salary of US$1,500, which is equivalent to RM6,117.
Detainee Aron Naldy Muhammad Ting Abdullah, 22, claimed that they were promised US$1,500 monthly but was instead treated like bonded slaves in Poipet, Banteay Meanchey province in Cambodia.
The Khmer Times English newspaper said the detainees, aged between 19 and 44, including 10 women were accused of opening and managing illegal gambling, and were awaiting prosecution.
“We do not know why we have been arrested. We hope to go home soon,” the paper quoted the Sibu-born Aron Naldy narrating to a verified source over a telephone conversation on Friday.
Khmer Times produced the narrative provided by the source, but did not name the source for security reasons.
“We were made to work from 8am to 4pm daily, learning on a tablet how online gambling works. We were not allowed to go out or speak to anyone outside of the house. They confiscated our phones and personal documents when we first arrived at the house.
“Although we went along with it, we did feel like something was wrong. When we asked about our salaries, we were told that they would be banked into our accounts and that we can check them when we return to Malaysia during the Chinese New Year break,” Aron Naldy said.
The paper said the victim arrived in Siem Reap in September last year with two other friends, Wong Chhung Hung and Ng Chun Fei, after depositing $300 (about RM1,200), respectively, into a Malaysian bank account as payment for their passports and flight tickets.
The ordeal began when he learned about a job opening in Cambodia through a group on social messaging service WeChat, Khmer Times reported.
Aron Naldy, who has never left Malaysia, was keen to go to Cambodia, following the footsteps of his friends who had ventured overseas for better job opportunities.
“My friends and I arrived in Siem Reap on September 18 or 19, and were brought to a house by several Chinese nationals, where other Malaysians were already there. It was a house that had guards and we received daily instructions from some Chinese nationals who also lived there.
“We did not have to do anything else but learn online gambling. Meals were prepared for us every day. Everything was provided including soaps, toothbrushes and towels,” he said.
On December 11, the Malaysians and eight Chinese nationals were arrested and brought to the Poipet police lock-up before being transferred to the Banteay Meanchey detention centre where they have been placed since.
However, Aron Naldy claimed that he was uncertain where the Chinese nationals were detained as they were nowhere to be seen in the detention centre.
On how their days are spent in the detention centre, he said: “We don’t do anything apart from sitting around, talking and watching people play football. We are given two meals a day. Some of us sleep in dormitory-style cells while others like me share a room with two others. I am lucky to have a pillow and mattress to sleep on”.
Aron Naldy said although they are well-treated, most are worried and miss home badly.
“I only ask for one thing. Please can you say when we can go back to Malaysia? Please bring us home,” he pleaded.
