Lawyers from the firm handling Chinese actor Wang Xing's human trafficking case told the journalists that Thai authorities are probing the incident. Their priority is to press criminal charges. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said Thailand must prevent being a criminal transit, vowing to toughen laws after Wang's disappearance.
Wang, missing near the Thailand-Myanmar border on January 3 and rescued later, was confirmed as a victim of human trafficking. Thai police plan to send him back to China in 1 - 2 days. The Mandarin Law Firm (MDR) in Thailand took his case, assigning lawyers. Kavin Guo of MDR said Thai authorities and the Chinese Embassy coordinated closely.
During the rescue, the Chinese Consulate General in Chiang Mai sought volunteers for info, and the Embassy in Bangkok accompanied Wang's relatives for reporting. Thai authorities also acted fast, taking Wang to Bangkok and a shelter.
MDR formed a five-person legal team. Tawan Wang of MDR said they'd been to Mae Sot often. Thai police were vigilant against human trafficking; the legal team was stopped multiple times en route.
MDR lawyers noted a rise in telecom fraud-cum-trafficking cases. Targets shifted to the educated and high-earners. Wang Xing was lured by a fake Thai entertainment firm, abducted, and trained for fraud. Since MDR shared the case, they got help requests.
After Wang's rescue, over 400 Chinese netizens discussed rescuing their relatives. 174 provided details, hoping to piggyback on Wang's case. Guo said the Chinese legal community in Thailand is upgrading aid plans for such cross-border crimes.
Journalists found in a family WeChat group a doc with details of missing relatives like age, origin, disappearance time, and routes. Most missing are 17 - 35, mostly men, and unaccounted for months to three years.
Dai, a WeChat group organizer, told the journalists she publicized the doc to expand the database for victims' return.
Analysis showed disappearances mainly had two routes: near the Thai-Myanmar border into Myanmar or from China's Yunnan border city.
Three families told the reporter they got messages suggesting relatives were taken via Thailand to areas in Myanmar and forced into telecom fraud.
The number of contributing families is growing. Mr. Bai said his son went missing in Aug 2024 after going to Myanmar for "business" a friend recommended. Ten days later, a distress signal revealed he was in a telecom fraud center, belongings confiscated, location distorted by jamming.
Bai's son added that on arrival, he was moved between vehicles, filmed, and forced to admit "voluntary entry." Victims were then sent to scam centers by value.
These families said law enforcement efforts shrank scam profits, so they escalated tactics and moved east. Bai noted new scams like luring with acting or teaching jobs.
Zhuang Hua of Guangdong Police College told Red Star News that as telecom fraud gangs evolved, the government ramped up regulating cybercrime chains, but new schemes emerged, making eradication tough.
In recent years, Myanmar's telecom fraud syndicates have targeted Chinese citizens, threatening safety and property.
Since Sept 2023, China's Ministry of Public Security has pushed cross-border law enforcement against Myanmar telecom fraud. In Nov 2024, it announced wiping out border fraud centers and arresting over 53,000 suspects. In Dec 2024, 39 major criminals were prosecuted, and thousands more are under investigation. Over 10,000 cases, worth billions in losses, have been logged, and lives have been lost. Chinese procurators emphasized the nation's commitment to protecting rights.
No comments:
Post a Comment