After its victims were repatriated from war-torn Myanmar, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) requested that the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) look into a contact centre fraud.
41 Thai citizens who were repatriated from the besieged town of Laukkaing in Shan State on Saturday are still undergoing background checks, according to DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong. The Thais included both innocent bystanders and those tricked into becoming con artists.
According to Mr. Prasert, background checks were carried out to keep the three factions apart. He also mentioned that the government has pledged to do everything within its power to protect Thai nationals from the violence.
The ministry has instructed the chairman of the Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC), Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, who is in charge of the CIB, to look into the situation. To increase the scope of the defendants’ prosecutions, more evidence must be gathered.
According to Mr. Prasert, the government has also collaborated closely with organisations tasked with eliminating contact centre scammers. He also advised Thai nationals to be cautious of foreigners who attempt to lure them into taking jobs abroad.
According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, as of Sunday, 266 Thai nationals had been sent by Myanmar authorities to the Chinese border where they were awaiting repatriation. The Thais take chartered flights from Kunming to Bangkok via Thai Lion Air and AirAsia after crossing the border.
There were five documented cases of illness. They underwent a medical examination by staff from the Public Health Ministry before leaving. In addition, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kunming provided refreshments and food to individuals who were leaving while coordinating flight schedules with the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing.
The Immigration Bureau also conducted immigration checks on the newcomers.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry states that the Royal Thai Police screens them in accordance with the so-called National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The NRM was created to make it possible for anti-trafficking organisations to exchange data about incidents involving forced work or human trafficking.
