KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysians who were stuck in Myanmar for three months after getting duped by a human trafficking syndicate will be brought back to Malaysia soon.
Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation secretary-general Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim said the Malaysian embassy in Bangkok was preparing travel documents for them to be flown out of Thailand.
He said the two victims were rescued after their mothers had recently pleaded for help, including to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"Last October, one of the victims, who is from Johor, was conned by a friend or colleague who offered a lucrative job in Singapore.
"However, upon arrival at Changi Airport, the victim was informed that his work permit and documents were still being worked on by the said friend or colleague.
"It seems that while waiting in Singapore for the documents to be finalised, they were taken to Bangkok.
"But after arriving in Bangkok, their passports were confiscated and they were taken to Mae Sot, which is close to the Thai-Myanmar border."
Hishamuddin added that the victims were taken through smuggling routes and then placed at a place called KK Garden Myanmar, where they were forced to work as online scammers.
He said after their plight went viral, many people had worked together to bring the victims back home.
"Perhaps because of this pressure, the two victims were released by the syndicate.
"They were placed in Mae Sot where they contacted the Malaysian embassy in Bangkok. They were then taken to the Mae Sot police station to have their statements recorded.
"They were then sent to the Malaysian embassy in Bangkok for their travel documents and papers to be processed so that they can return home to their families."