KUCHING: The case of six Sarawakians stranded in Cambodia for almost four months after being scammed by an employment syndicate is still under investigation.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said state police are still investigating the case with assistance from the Bukit Aman police headquarters.
“We are still waiting for further developments.
“There were reports stating that some of the victims in Cambodia have returned to Malaysia and one case of a Sarawakian having returned to the state,” he said after attending the police monthly assembly yesterday (July 18).
In April, the families of six men aged between 19 and 39, had lodged police reports claiming their family members had been tricked into working for a scam call centre in Cambodia.
Following that, Sarawak police opened two investigation papers under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
Meanwhile, Bukit Aman police have taken action through Interpol to track down the victims in Cambodia and subsequently arrest the employment agents.
During the press conference, Azman disclosed that a total of 119 cases of job offer scams involving losses amounting to RM1.5 million, were recorded by the Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) from January to June this year.
Thus, the public is advised to be vigilant and not to be easily be fooled by non-existent job offers that promise a lucrative salary.
He explained that it is one of the modus operandi offered by syndicates and also applies in cases that occur in the country such as job offers in e-commerce platforms.
On July 10, the Malaysian ambassador in Cambodia Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim told Bernama that 46 Malaysians who were said to have been duped into taking up ‘lucrative job offers overseas’, have been rescued.
Eldeen expressed appreciation to the Cambodian authorities for the close cooperation given to help Malaysians who fell victim to job scams in the kingdom.
He said initial investigations found many Malaysians were stranded in Cambodia after being duped by job syndicates.
“We are working closely with the relevant authorities to help them return home. However, the process takes time,” he said.
On the same topic, two Sarawakians who were duped by an employment fraud syndicate in Cambodia, have safely returned home in June with the help of Bintulu MP cum Dudong assemblyman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
The two victims, originally from Sibu, were enticed by a job offer promising a lucrative income on Facebook, which was introduced by a friend in March.
