KUALA LUMPUR: A 36-year-old air-conditioning technician from Langkawi faces a terrifying ordeal after being lured into a human trafficking trap in Myanmar, with a syndicate threatening execution if his family fails to pay an RM30,000 ransom.
According to Kosmo!, the victim was initially promised a lucrative RM5,000 for a one-day job collecting goods in Bangkok. However, this opportunity quickly turned into a nightmare filled with physical abuse and threats.
His sister, Aini, 37, revealed the harrowing details of her brother's situation, describing how he contacted her on Nov 11 in a state of desperation.
"They aren't even giving him water. They claim that they don't want him because he's Malay, and they have threatened to execute him if the ransom is not paid within a week," said Aini.
The victim's co-worker is in a similar situation, as both attempted to escape but were quickly recaptured. The syndicate has callously reduced the original RM89,000 ransom demand to RM30,000, cynically citing the co-worker's age and limited computer skills.
The victims' families are now caught in a terrifying limbo, uncertain whether payment would guarantee their loved ones' safety.
The co-worker's brother said that the syndicate continues to demand payment, treating the men as disposable commodities.