Malaysian Man Tortured by Cambodian Scammer Syndicate Rescued After Months of Abuse
Malaysian Man Forced Into Scamming, Tortured and Fed Pork in Cambodia
What was supposed to be a high-paying job abroad turned into a brutal nightmare for one Malaysian man, who was lured into a scam syndicate in Cambodia and subjected to months of abuse.
The Fake Job That Became a Trap
Joe, a 36-year-old satay griller from Johor Bahru, was offered what sounded like a dream opportunity — the same job he was already doing, but in Cambodia, with a promised salary of USD1,500 (RM6,300) a month. His friend even paid for the flight and gave him RM2,000 in cash.
But once he arrived in April, he was drugged in a luxury hotel and taken to a scammer compound in Sihanoukville.
Tortured for Missing Targets
There, Joe was forced to impersonate authorities like police or MCMC officers over the phone in order to scam victims. He was given monthly targets of RM50,000 to RM100,000 — and failure meant brutal punishment.
“I was tortured with electric shocks, locked in a room without food, only given a bottle of water,” he said.
He revealed that over 40 Malaysians were being held at the compound, alongside victims from Russia, Brazil, and Arab countries. They were made to live in mixed-gender dormitories and fed pork and alcohol, regardless of religion or dietary restrictions.
A Desperate Escape
Joe’s opportunity came when the syndicate handed out mobile phones before moving the group to Laos, where they were to be used as forced laborers or beggars. Seizing the moment, Joe contacted Skudai assemblywoman Marina Ibrahim for help.
He and four other Malaysians were successfully rescued on August 16.
“Throughout the rescue period, I was thinking between life and death,” he said. “I didn’t know which would come first — help, or being killed.”
Betrayal From a Friend
Joe later found out his friend who arranged the job offer had received USD2,000 (around RM8,400) in commission for each victim he recruited.
Sadly, Joe’s story is not unique. In recent years, numerous Malaysians and foreigners have fallen victim to similar scams in Cambodia, often lured by fake job offers, only to endure months of torture and forced scams.
DISCLAIMER: NasiLemakDaily is not responsible for any comments written by readers. Please think carefully before posting. We are also unable to monitor every comment posted. All comments are your own responsibility.
