27-05-2025
Sandakan man trapped by Cambodia scam syndicate; Family pleads for rescue
Jerry (second from left) and the family show a video call with the victim, who remains captive in Cambodia.
KOTA KINABALU (May 27): Two siblings are pleading with authorities to help rescue their younger brother, who has fallen victim to an international kidnapping syndicate operating in Cambodia.
The family, who wish to be identified only as the Hao family from Sandakan, revealed that their 23-year-old brother is currently being held by the syndicate at an undisclosed location in Cambodia.
'Our brother had been working in Kuala Lumpur for some time. He left for Cambodia on February 10 without informing us. We only found out about his situation a week ago when his employer in Kuala Lumpur reached out,' said the 28-year-old sister when met at the Malaysian Humanitarian International Organisation (MHO) office in Asia City on Tuesday.
Upon learning the news, the sister checked her brother's iPad, which he had left at home. The device, linked to his iPhone, showed travel details and photos indicating he boarded a flight to Cambodia at 6am on February 10.
'We believe he left with an agent, along with nine other Malaysians,' she said.
The family still does not know what type of job their brother had been promised that lured him overseas.
Upon arrival in Cambodia, he and others were confined in an apartment and forced to work as scammers.
'He eventually managed to contact someone he trusted and paid them to inform the Cambodian authorities, but the syndicate found out. They beat him and others who tried to escape and forced them to sign new contracts and record staged videos claiming they were safe and free,' she added.
The victim, now forced to work under the syndicate, was given a phone through which he secretly contacts his family using Telegram — an app commonly used by such syndicates.
'He tries not to show his fear, but we know he's terrified. We just want him home safely,' his sister said.
Meanwhile, MHO operational officer Captain (R) Jerry Jaimeh stated that their team in Cambodia, led by Azirul Shafiq, is actively working to locate and rescue the victims.
'A rescue operation is still feasible as they remain within Cambodian borders,' said Jerry, adding that most victims are young Malaysians from rural areas aged between 18 and 25.
He urged the public to be cautious about overseas job offers to avoid falling prey to similar scams.
In March, this year, MHO rescued a young man from Keningau who was a victim of a job scam syndicate in Cambodia.
MHO received a report from the victim's family on March 25 and immediately launched a rescue mission.
They coordinated with the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the family to facilitate his release.
