KUCHING: The Malaysian and Cambodian embassies as well as international authorities are urged to help trace six Sarawakians who are job scam victims in Cambodia.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang said the families of the victims had appealed to the government to investigate the matter and bring home their loved ones.
Police reports concerning the matter had been lodged by the families.
“I remind the public not to fall for some job offers outside the country which offer lucrative salaries and are advertised on social media,” said the assemblyman during a press conference together with the victims’ family members at Batu Kitang Service Centre yesterday.
Lo hoped with the reports lodged by the victims’ families, the police could investigate the matter and take necessary actions.
The asemblyman also hoped the Malaysian government would get the International Police (Interpol) to cooperate in investigating the case.
On April 25, Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said six police reports were lodged by the victims’ family members between April 20 and 22 this year.
He added that the state’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) had opened two investigation papers under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
The Royal Malaysia Police will also seek assistance from Interpol under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 2002 to locate the six victims.
Lo, who is also Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman, also revealed that the victims had contacted their relatives but only for a brief moment.
“They are between 19 and 39 years old and they come from Kuching and Serian. Some of them are from my constituency; that is why we are holding this press conference to remind the public.
“We do not know what had happened to them in Cambodia, whether they are being abused, mistreated or if they have enough to eat to survive. It has been two or three weeks.
“We hope that relevant authorities from our country as well as from international agencies can help to save them from the situation,” said Lo.
He added that he was also informed that the family members were not aware that the victims were offered jobs in Cambodia. They had flown to the country unnoticed.
However, the families received a one-minute call from the victims to send help. They said they had been scammed and now could not come home.
