Teens Lured By Myanmar Syndicate Now Safe In Thai Hands

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Michael Chong (centre) and the parents of the teenagers showing a picture of the boys under the care of Thai police in Mae Sot.KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysian teenagers who were lured by a criminal syndicate to Myanmar are now safe in Thailand.
MCA public services and complaints department head Michael Chong said Thai police were currently watching over them.
He said the pair would face a Thai court on May 10 because they had entered the country illegally.
“The Mae Sot district police chief has taken pity on them and has stood surety for them until the court hearing,” Chong said at a press conference today, adding that their parents would attend the proceedings in the town in western Thailand near the border with Myanmar.
Also at the press conference were the parents of the teenagers, who thanked the Thai authorities and pleaded for the safe return of their sons.
They also urged the Malaysian embassy in Bangkok to provide assistance.
Chong also said his department had received four other reports of human trafficking cases in Myanmar, with some involving demands for ransom.
He urged the families affected to lodge police reports, saying the authorities were better suited to deal with the cases.
He also implored the public to be mindful of fraudulent job offers and online advertisements promising lucrative employment opportunities.
Last Sunday, Chong said a Malaysian teenager was released by his captors following pressure from the media.
The family of the 15-year-old had forked out RM10,000 in ransom for his release and with the help of Malaysian businessmen in Thailand, the teenager, along with another teen, were saved.
The teen’s mother had told reporters her son was taken away by a few local men on March 23 under the pretext of giving him a job in Johor. However, he was taken to Myanmar through illegal routes to work for a criminal syndicate. - FMT

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