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A Chinese-led international scam organization based in Thailand has reportedly detained around 1,000 individuals from various nations, including 23 Kenyans, who were lured to the country with false employment promises in the hospitality sector.
This alarming situation came to light when a 30-year-old Kenyan man managed to escape and sought refuge in Myanmar after suffering alleged torture for refusing to participate in the scam operations. The victim, whose identity remains confidential, was discovered by a shopkeeper in Phop Phra district on Sunday morning, visibly injured and struggling to walk. He requested the shopkeeper's assistance contacting local authorities to report his ordeal.
According to the victim's account, he fled from a so-called "scammer town" in Myawaddy, enduring a perilous five-hour journey across mountainous terrain that spanned over 10 kilometres to reach the Thai border. He had initially arrived in Thailand on October 5, 2022, after being promised a well-paying position as a chef by a Kenyan job placement firm.
Upon landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport, he and two other Kenyan nationals were met by an agent who transported them to Mae Sot district in Tak province, and subsequently across the border into Myanmar. Upon arrival, they were coerced into working for a call scam operation specializing in cryptocurrency investment fraud.
The victim reported being subjected to brutal treatment after he refused to engage in the scamming activities. His experience included being assaulted with a stun baton and baseball bat, as well as enduring painful applications of hot wax to his wounds. His feet were severely swollen and wounded, indicative of the harsh conditions he had escaped.
He has disclosed that the scam centre housed approximately 1,000 individuals from diverse countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.