KUCHING: An 18-year-old young man from Kuching has fallen victim to a job scam syndicate and is now being held hostage in Cambodia, with his captors demanding a ransom of USD8,000 (approximately RM35,000) for his release.
According to Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Public Complaints Bureau Chief, Milton Foo, the boy was deceived into believing he had secured a job as a chef in Singapore but was instead trafficked to Cambodia, near the Vietnam border.
Foo said the victim left Kuching on July 6 this year using a new passport that was issued just a day before his departure, arranged and paid for by the so-called “employer”.
“The parents only found out on July 19 that their son was in Cambodia after receiving a video call from him via Instagram.
“He looked swollen and said he had been beaten with a plastic stick,” Foo told a press conference here today.
He said the boy pleaded for help, telling his parents that his captors demanded payment by 11:30 pm today, failing which he would be “beaten and sold” to other countries such as India, Vietnam, the Philippines, or Cambodia.
“The victim told his mother that if the ransom was not paid, ‘that’s the end’, which left his family extremely distressed,” he added.
Foo revealed that the boy was among four Sarawakians who were lured by the same middleman in Kuching, believed to have received a commission of RM1,000 for each recruit.
One of the victims has reportedly been “sold off” to another country.
“The person who introduced the victim to the syndicate is a 20-year-old car wash worker in Kuching,” he said, adding that the parents have since provided the suspect’s details to the police.
Foo said the family has lodged a police report and sought assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sarawak Regional office).
“I have advised the parents to submit all supporting documents to the ministry, which will forward the case to the Cambodian Embassy to coordinate with local authorities.
“I have also forwarded the case details to the Malaysian Embassy in Cambodia to expedite rescue efforts,” he said.
He added that the police are now investigating the case, including tracing the bank account and the individual receiving the ransom money.
Meanwhile, the victim’s mother made an emotional plea for help, appealing to the authorities and the Cambodian ambassador to rescue her son.
“I just want my son home safely. Please help us. We can’t sleep or eat because we’re so worried about him,” she said tearfully.
Foo urged the public, especially job-seekers, to remain vigilant against overseas employment offers that seem too good to be true.
“Always verify job opportunities through proper channels. These scams often prey on young people’s hopes for better opportunities,” he said.
