JAKARTA: Indonesia successfully secured the release of 12 of its citizens who had been trapped in an online business fraud operation in the township of Myawaddy in Myanmar, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday (Oct 15).
The 12 citizens crossed from Myanmar into Thailand on Tuesday at around 4pm local time and were scheduled to undergo the immigration process in Thailand in accordance with applicable regulations, the ministry said in a statement.
According to the ministry, the victims travelled to Thailand between March and July this year after being promised jobs there.
However, based on their accounts, they were held captive and forced to work as online scammers and gamblers.
They also reportedly experienced physical abuse, and their phones were confiscated.
To date, Indonesia has secured the release of 65 Indonesian citizens from the region and is working to assist another 69 still trapped in Myawaddy.
The ministry has urged all citizens planning to work abroad to do so through official channels and in compliance with applicable procedures to avoid the risk of becoming victims of human trafficking or forced labour. - Xinhua
