Compiled by C. ARUNO, BENJAMIN LEE and R. ARAVINTHAN
BELIEVING that he was being offered US$5,000 (RM22,345) to work as a personal driver, a single father of three from Malaysia was trafficked and ended up working for a scam syndicate in Cambodia, reported China Press.
The victim’s mother Huang, 60, made an emotional plea for the traffickers to release her son during a press conference organised by the Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation.
She said a man calling himself “Little Ghost” contacted her grandson and claimed that her 38-year-old son was trapped in Poipet, a city on the Cambodian-Thai border.
“Little Ghost sent my son’s location to my grandson and showed that he was in Poipet.
“He said that if we do not rescue my son soon, he could be sold and trafficked elsewhere,” said an emotional Huang, who sobbed throughout the press conference and was inconsolable.
Her brother had to step in to speak on her behalf.
He said his nephew is a filial son who left home to work when he was just a teenager.
“Though he may have wanted to care for his mother, he may have been blinded by greed and fell into the traffickers’ scheme
“My nephew does not have a university degree. How can he expect to be paid US$5,000 in wages?” he said, adding that he hopes the Cambodian authorities could step in to save his nephew.
According to a police investigation, the man left the country via the Bukit Kayu Hitam border on Oct 24.
> Hong Kong actress Elanne Kong is still experiencing nightmares after a car accident in Tsim Sha Tsui, reported Sin Chew Daily.
In her first public appearance since the incident, the 38-year-old recounted her experience.
“I hit a safety island, lost control, and the car tipped over. I immediately checked for injuries, unfastened my seatbelt and climbed out through the sunroof.”
Footage of the incident showed passers-by rushing to help.
Kong said she was extremely thankful to those who came to her aid.
Despite 10 years of driving experience, the accident has traumatised her.
“I need time to overcome the trauma and let my husband drive me around for the time being.
“Every time I close my eyes, I can’t help but relive the incident again. I continue to have nightmares about it. I’m lucky I escaped with only minor injuries,” she said.
It was reported that the accident took place in Nathan Road on Dec 13.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
