MALAYSIAN ambassador to Cambodia, Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim has written to the National Police Chief, General Neth Savoeun here to seek the release of about 50 Malaysians, allegedly held against their will in Sihanoukville.
Reports in the Khmer Times said the undated letter was written in early April seeking the release of the Malaysians, reportedly forced or coerced into illegal activities due to job scams.
In the letter, the ambassador said they had received reports that up to 20 individuals, comprising 16 males and four females had become victims of human trafficking in Cambodia.
They apparently arrived in Bei and Phum Buaon, in Preah Sihanouk province and are locked up and forced to work 14 hours a day.
"The victims were also threatened and beaten if they disobeyed orders of expressed intentions to leave," the ambassador said in the letter.
Khmer Times has been investigating these incidents since they first surfaced in March and had also reached out to the Malaysian Business Chamber in Cambodia with specific details of their locations, and the information has been forwarded to the authorities for action.
Khmer Times has been informed by highly reliable sources that investigations are going on, mostly covertly and action is expected to be taken soon in multiple locations.
Earlier this week, 15 Malaysian youths were allegedly rescued from a perceived hostage situation which turned out to be a hoax as they were legally employed by a casino in Sihanoukville.
"Information that 15 Malaysian youth were being held hostage by kidnappers turned out to be false and most of them wanted to stay and continue their work in the casino while a few wanted to go back home to Malaysia.
"They have been sent to Phnom Penh police for interrogation and a final decision on their status in Cambodia and whether they are to be deported will be made," Provincial police chief Major General Chuon Narin said.
Up to Friday, the interrogation process was being determined as it was learned that most of the 15 wanted to remain and work here and were no allegations or information about any attempt to 'sell them' to another group or move them to work in online call centres.
Initial reports from Malaysia, received by the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)'s public services and complaints department claimed that more than 50 Malaysians were being held captive in Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand by online scam syndicates.
Department head, Datuk Seri Michael Chong, said they had received calls from some of the victims the past two months asking to be rescued from captivity.
He said the victims had been deceived with offers to work as telemarketers.
"We are working with the embassies and Royal Malaysian Police to rescue the victims. We also appeal to youngsters to be more careful and not be easily cheated and blinded by the high salaries that the syndicates allegedly offer," Chong said at a press conference.
During the press conference, Chong also made video calls to two men who claimed that they were being held against their will by a syndicate in Cambodia.
One of them, who wanted to remain anonymous, said there were 13 Malaysians, including five women, aged between 17 and 36, in the same area who were forced to work as "scam operators."
"We were told to scam our customers, and if we could not do that, we would be confined in a room without food for two or three days," he said.
The other victim claimed that he was with a different group of about 50 Malaysians, including a woman, also in Cambodia.
He said they were taken to Cambodia by flight or through illegal land routes.
"We work more than 15 hours (daily) to cheat customers around the world. We must follow instructions or we will never know our fate," the victim said.