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.
Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau Pol Lt-Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej said the 33-year-old businessman from China believed to be the mastermind of a syndicate that lured job seekers especially Thais to work at border town of Myawaddy, Myanmar.
He was arrested in Bangkok on Sunday.
He said initial investigation found the syndicate lured job seekers promising high-paying job in Mae Sot in Tak province but instead forced them to cross the border to Myawaddy in Myanmar to work as scammers.
"Thai police started the investigation last year. We issued arrest warrant for 19 individuals including 11 Thais, Chinese (three), Myanmar (three), one Malaysian and Filipino.
"To date, we arrested seven Thai and one Chinese national (mastermind),” he said.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division Pol. Col Man Menyam said police started investigation after seven Thais who fell victims to job scam were rescued in Mae Sot.
He said the victims including five women were lured to work in Myawaddy and they were punished and beaten when they failed to hit target set by their supervisors - a Malaysian and Filipino.
"The victims safely returned home after family members paid a ransom of 50,000 baht each,” he told Bernama.
He added that the victims later lodged report at Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division. - Bernama
Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau Pol Lt-Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej said the 33-year-old businessman from China believed to be the mastermind of a syndicate that lured job seekers especially Thais to work at border town of Myawaddy, Myanmar.
He was arrested in Bangkok on Sunday.
He said initial investigation found the syndicate lured job seekers promising high-paying job in Mae Sot in Tak province but instead forced them to cross the border to Myawaddy in Myanmar to work as scammers.
"Thai police started the investigation last year. We issued arrest warrant for 19 individuals including 11 Thais, Chinese (three), Myanmar (three), one Malaysian and Filipino.
"To date, we arrested seven Thai and one Chinese national (mastermind),” he said.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division Pol. Col Man Menyam said police started investigation after seven Thais who fell victims to job scam were rescued in Mae Sot.
He said the victims including five women were lured to work in Myawaddy and they were punished and beaten when they failed to hit target set by their supervisors - a Malaysian and Filipino.
"The victims safely returned home after family members paid a ransom of 50,000 baht each,” he told Bernama.
He added that the victims later lodged report at Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division. - Bernama