“M’sians Are Easy To Fool” — JB Hawker Shares 4-Month Trafficking Nightmare In Cambodia

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A 36-year-old Malaysian has recounted his ordeal after being held captive by a job scam syndicate in Cambodia

According to the New Straits Times, the victim, known only as Jo, was enticed with the promise of a high-paying job.

A satay hawker from Johor Bahru, Jo said he received a job offer from a friend who had just returned from China and seemed well-off, even driving a luxury car.

He was offered a job as a satay griller at a Malay-owned restaurant in Cambodia with a salary of USD1,500 (about RM6,285).

"He made the offer during the final week of Ramadan in March. Being a satay trader myself, I got excited and trusted him. The offer seemed legitimate because [I had worked for his family's restaurant in Johor Bahru years ago]," Jo recalled.

He was flown to Cambodia with all his travel expenses covered, given RM2,000 in pocket money, and stayed in a luxury hotel for three days

"On the third day, they took me out for entertainment, and I blacked out. When I regained consciousness, I realised I was locked inside a heavily guarded building in Sihanoukville. That was when I found out I was actually at a scam syndicate's compound, or as we called it, a 'prison'," he said.

While being held, Jo received a call from the same friend who had recruited him. The friend apologised and admitted he was paid USD2,000 (RM8,440) for every person he brought in.

Jo was forced to work for the syndicate, impersonating police officers and officials from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to deceive victims

"I was shocked to learn how easily Malaysians could be fooled by scammers. They even had an automated system with complete data on potential victims," he said.

Each captive was required to generate between RM50,000 and RM100,000 in scam profits per month.

"If I was late to work or stopped for a drink, they would electrocute me with a stun gun and lock me in a room with only a bottle of water. I was only paid USD200 (RM844) a month," he said.

After enduring months of torture, Jo finally saw a chance to escape when he and four other Malaysians were told they would be transferred to the Laos border to work as forced labourers or beggars

"That's when we managed to contact Skudai assemblyman Marina Ibrahim for help. Even while waiting for rescue, I didn't know whether help or death would come first — or if we'd just be trafficked again," he said.

Jo and his companions were finally rescued and brought home safely on 16 August. The hawker described his rescue as his second chance at life.