Two Thai men from Phayao province have been rescued by Thai and Malaysian police in a raid on a condominium used as an operational base for a call centre gang in central Kuala Lumpur, Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakphan, deputy commissioner of the Tourism Police, said in a press conference at Suvarnabhumi airport on Saturday night.
Tourist police display a banner showing a joint operation with Malaysian authorities to crack down on a call centre. (Photo by Sutthiwit Chayutworakan)
Pol Maj Gen Surachet identified the two as Kae Soonklang, 39, and Athakrit Lachiangkhong, 23, both from the northern province of Phayao.
He said the two had been duped into travelling to Malaysia by job brokers who promised them work at a restaurant. On arriving in Malaysia, however, they were forced to work at a call centre, making calls to Thai people to deceive them into making financial transactions.
After they refused to perform the illegal work, they were beaten and assaulted with electric wires, said Pol Maj Gen Surachet.
A team of Thai and Malaysian police raided the condominium in the heart of Kuala Lumpur after learning that it was being used as an operational base by the call centre gang, rescuing the two Thai men.
The police also arrested three Taiwanese men and two Malaysians, a man and a woman, who were being investigated.
The two Thai men were in police custody for questioning as witnesses before being sent back to Thailand, he said.
According to Pol Maj Gen Surachet, the Malaysian police have proposed that Thai and Malaysian authorities investigating crimes involving electronic media hold twice-yearly meetings to exchange information.
The proposal would be forwarded to Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, the police chief, for consideration, he added.