Summary of the emails

Thank you for your help.

Loo signed off the email as a helpless Malaysian.

The reporter sought help from ACP Lai Lee Ching, Principal Assistant Director (Strategic Planning), Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) and was referred to Bukit Aman CID Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) D3 principal assistant director SAC Fadil Marsus.

March 10, 9.49 p.m.

The email asking for the exact location of the building was replied to three days later.

In his email, Sin Chew Daily reporter wrote: “Do you know your location? If yes, can you furnish us your location?”

Loo did not reply immediately. The Chinese authorities were launching a crackdown and all those involved in the syndicate were lying low. Loo could only remain in his room and was unable to communicate with Sin Chew reporter.

He replied three days later.

March 13, 8.23 p.m.

Sin Chew reporter guided Loo to trace address from Google Maps

Loo wrote: “I am sorry that I replied to the email late. The Chinese authorities are launching a raid here. We were checked thoroughly here. We did not work these few days. Only stay in the room and unable to contact others. I am gradually collecting the names and the identity cards of others. Some are still worried that they would be beaten up after being discovered. So, they are not keen to give me their details. We tried many ways to find out whether the raid by Chinese authorities (referred as Tian Wang) could save us. Those living here in the building are not only Malaysians but Chinese nationals and Thais. I once asked them but they were here illegally. Now they would rather surrender to the authorities than stay here.

Sin Chew reporter asked for a list of names to furnish the police.

Loo replied: “Do you want all 40 names and their identity card numbers? Some of them are not willing to give. We do not know them well. If this is known, I will be dead.:

Sin Chew reporter: “Can you give us the location? We are not familiar with Cambodia and we may not be giving inaccurate information.

“Can you give me the names and the identity card numbers that you have now? Also tell me how you have been deceived and the time if possible. I need to have an explanation for that.”

Loo did not know how to give the location from Google map. Sin Chew reporter taught him step by step to look for Google Map then share the link of the map.

Loo followed the instructions to click on Google map then saw a building with a blue roof with an address.

Loo wrote: “We are next to the building in red. You can see an X in blue. I am unable to take more photos for you without a handphone. I am worried that the Cambodian police would find an excuse not to act.”

After securing the location, the Sin Chew reporter sent the address and location to SAC Fadil immediately.

A police officer from the CID Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants division contacted Sin Chew reporter for more information.

Sin Chew reporter sent another email the next day to follow up with Loo on the list of names.

He replied three days later.

March 17

Those who submit their names and identity card numbers worry for their safety

Loo received some names and identity cards but he was worried.

“I want to know any successful rescue cases in the past? We have to ensure everyone is safe here. We may be dumped into the sea. Is there any way not to reveal our identity by helping us?”

Sin Chew reporter replied: “If you give the name and the identity car, that means you are lodging a report with the police that you are a victim of human trafficking. Without giving your name, you may be forced to deceive others for some time until you are arrested by the Cambodian police. Or you are recruited as one of the scammers because of your good performance. You are going to be arrested anyway. If you only want to run away, you can opt to leave the place then seek help from the Embassy of Malaysia or local Chinese organizations.”

Loo wrote: “My last question would be how long do we have to wait for rescue? Is it going to be half a year or one year? How much time do you need to handle this? I am sorry, as many are involved, more questions are asked. This is my last question. The checks are frequent lately, I have tried my best to reply as soon as possible.”

Sin Chew reporter explained to Loo that if the Cambodian police were to treat all of them as scammers, they would be arrested by the Cambodian police. If they are considered as a victim of human trafficking, then they would have to furnish their names and give a statement. If they are arrested before the Malaysian police inform Cambodia, they would be treated as criminals.

“That is why we requested you to inform your family to lodge a police report. If we know the process of you have been deceived, then we may be able to check with other agencies to find out how we can speed up the process to rescue you.”

March 18

No emails for seven days as the syndicate was suspicious of Loo

Loo had promised that he would be sending a complete set of information a day earlier.

Sin Chew Daily only received his email seven days later.

The syndicate was suspicious of him. Loo was lying low for a while.

March 23

Someone committed suicide by jumping down from the building

Loo finally sent the name list of 14 Malaysians in an email.

Loo said he was monitored and could not act.

Someone had just committed suicide by jumping down from the building.

Loo hoped he would be rescued.

Sin Chew reporter promised that he would follow up with the police soon and also check with some politicians.

Loo said he was still at the same location. He also said that other technology parks near to him have been raided by the Chinese police.

Sin Chew reporter taught him how to trace his location link from Google Maps so that if he had been relocated by the syndicate (sell him to another group of syndicates), Loo would still be able to trace the new location again.

Sin Chew reporter also informed him that his current location link had been sent to the Malaysian police to be referred to Interpol.

Based on the request made through Loo, Sin Chew reporter also contacted the family of one of the Malaysians to lodge a police report.

March 24 morning

“Save us fast or all of us may commit suicide”

Loo gave the details of another Malaysian and the map.

“Someone committed suicide from this building. We estimate not less than 300 Chinese nationals live here. Seven to 10 people stay in a room. There are about 30 security officers here. Some have pistols, some are holding police batons. I will draw the main entrance in detail for you. Please save us fast. Or all of us may commit suicide by jumping down from the building.

Loo said the syndicate divided scammers into four sections. One was targeting at Chinese nationals, another one Taiwanese while the third one westerner. Malaysians were placed in the section to deceive westerners. While Loo’s section did not manage to deceive westerners, other sections had raked in millions.

Loo did not know the operation of other sections.

March 25 morning

Cambodian police asked for US$5,000

The Sin Chew reporter was looking for more avenues to help Loo apart from contacting the Malaysian police and the Chinese police.

“Have you tried to email to Cambodian police? What was their response? Or have you tried to seek help from the media in Cambodia? “

Loo replied: “We did and we received the same reply. We have not lodged a police report with the Cambodia police through email. When we sought help from the Cambodian police, we were asked to pay US$5,000. Then we thought of the Embassy of Malaysia and Sin Chew Daily.”

Sin Chew Reporter: “If you have the details of how Chinese nationals are scammed, maybe you can seek help from Chinese police. “

Loo replied: “No, this is impossible. They use fake names here. No one is using real name. We hardly get in touch with the Chinese nationals. You can see the list of newspapers that we asked for help. I have done whatever I can think of. You can tell the police to leave by paying him USD 30,000 to USD 40,000. This place is even more corrupted than Malaysia,’’ he said.

March 26

600 people live in the 15-storey building

Sin Chew reporter requested Loo to describe the building and people in the building in an email.

Loo replied: a restaurant, a brothel, a massage parlor, a supermarket and hotel for security guards are located on the ground floor. Canteen and a restaurant are on the first floor. A clinic, a salon and KTV lounge are on the second floor. Hostels are found on the third to eighth floors while the scam call centers are from fourth to 12th floors. KTV is on the 13th floor while a casino, gym and snooker center are on the 14th floor. A sky bar is on the top floor.

Loo is unsure of the exact number of people living in the building but he estimated not less than 600 people as there were 70 tables for Chinese New Year dinner.

At least 40 people were security staff with electric rods, batons, pistols or guns.

Loo said the place looked decent but it was like hell to him.

Loo ended his email by writing: “This is the darkest place. No place is darker than this. I can’t send you information anymore. If I can receive email, I will send it to you. Thank You. Please help us. We have no other options,”

March 28

Loo was suggested to write to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

As the local police did not act, Sin Chew reporter suggested Loo to write a letter in Malay to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the number of Malaysians asking for help, the time period of them being held in captive and whether they have been beaten up.

Sin Chew reporter told Loo that if the local police did not take action, then this letter would be used to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see whether the Cambodian police would act based on directive from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Embassy of Malaysia in Cambodia.

March 29

Scammers dupe people into investing in cryptocurrency

Sin Chew reporter requested Loo to reveal the strategy to scam.

Lon said the syndicate would lure investors to invest in cryptocurrency by letting the investors win some profit initially. When they lose money investors are requested to top up their funds so that they are able to win. Once they win investors are requested to top up more funds. Scammers would abandon the investors once they feel that their money is drained.

March 30

Took a photograph of being beaten up

When the local police did not act, the Sin Chew reporter asked whether Loo could leave the building on his own.

Loo replied: “To go to the Embassy of Malaysia in Phnom Penh, one needs to drive six hours. You may not get a car willing to give you a lift. Once you are caught by their ‘hunters’ for running away, you are finished. I don’t understand why someone can’t come here to rescue us. We have neither a passport nor money with us.

Sin Chew reporter: “Don’t panic. I am only relaying the message to you. I don’t know about the plan of the Cambodia police or the Chinese police. I don’t know whether or when they are going to take action. I can only contact the police in Malaysia to follow up. While waiting for the rescue, you still continue to update me. I hope such information will let enforcers take action sooner.”

Loo wrote: “I have given you whatever requested by you. I am not sure what else I can give you. Why don’t you ask me? For those Malaysians who are not willing to give me their details I have no authority to give you.”

Not long after that, Loo sent an email: “Please save us quick. I have been identified. This is the photo that I risk my life to take.”

Sin Chew reporter was worried about Loo’s safety. Although he is feeling anxious, he told Loo: “Please make sure you are safe and do not do anything to harm yourself. Even if you are relocated by the syndicate, you still can share with us your location as I taught you earlier. You are a victim in the record of the police. Police had shared your information with the ASEAN police organization. You will be saved. Please bear with me and be patient.”

April 2

Bad news! Those who sought help would be relocated

As the Sin Chew reporter did not receive email from Loo for two days, he sent Loo some positive news such as details passed to police, pending action by Cambodian police. CID chief in Bukit Aman said the police was keeping a close link with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to rescue those trapped in Cambodia as soon as possible.

The Thai government was also planning to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Cambodian government in a bid to crackdown scammers.

The Sin Chew reporter continued to remind Loo to take good care of himself and as long as he could go online, he would still be able to share his location.

At 2.19pm, Loo shared news of his group going to be relocated to another site.

“I am not sure who has leaked the information but my superior told me we would be relocated in a day or two. Please save us fast!”

Sin Chew reporter replied Loo that he would inform the police and hoped that their counterpart would be able to act soon. In the event that he was relocated, he could still share his location on Google map. Others could do the same.

The Sin Chew reporter was anxious too. If Loo was taken to another place, then the rescue plan would fall apart.

But the worst thing still happened.

April 4 night

An insider in Cambodia police released the photo to the syndicate

“The photo I sent you was leaked to the syndicate by the police. Hope I can see you again,” Loo wrote in his email.

“An insider in the police has leaked the photo I sent you to the higher up in the syndicate. The syndicate is tracing the person who sent the photo. Hope I can see you again.”

The Sin Chew reporter was having cold sweat reading the email. He could imagine Loo’s disappointment and unsure of how would Loo be treated by the syndicate for handing over the details to Sin Chew Daily.

Both Loo and the Sin Chew reporter were unaware that the rescue mission was about to begin.

April 5 morning

Enforcement officers show up at the building to take Malaysians in the name list out of the area

Local enforcement officers showed up at the building, instructing the person in charge to handover Malaysians according to a name list.

A supervisor gathered the Malaysians according to the list and asked them if anyone reported. The supervisor also showed Loo the photocopy of the passports of 15 Malaysians in the list, saying that the police was at the downstairs.

No one admitted. The supervisor had no choice but to allow the 15 to leave with the police.

Loo later said they did not have time to pack. They only left with their passports and handphones given back to them by the enforcement officers.

The Malaysians encountered another problem when they were at the police station in Westport.

Citing the reason of affecting ties between Malaysia and Cambodia, the police persuaded the Malaysians to change their statement or they could only return home in another three months.

Loo sent an email to Sin Chew reporter through his phone saying that they were requested by the immigration officers in Westport to change their statement that they were working in Cambodia on their own will. The Malaysians also urged to contact the Embassy of Malaysia.

The Sin Chew reporter only found out that they were rescued.

He sent an email to Loo immediately: “Did the immigration officers raid the technology park? Did the embassy officials show up or call the immigration office?”

Loo replied at 8.11pm the same night.

“No sight of embassy officials. We were told that we would be detained for some time as the immigration wanted to check if we have entered Cambodia legally. Can you try to contact the embassy for me?”

The Malaysians were worried as the persons in charge of the technology park were present in immigration office and they requested for embassy officials to bring them out of the immigration office.

“Please help us to follow up with the minister and the police. We have reached the last leg. Buy you lunch when we are back in Malaysia.”

April 6

Police requested Malaysians to change their statements

Loo sought help again saying that the police kept changing their statement by saying that they lied. The police seemed to be forcing them to return to the syndicate. Loo hoped that the embassy officials could rescue them fast.

“We have completed the statements. But they kept asking us different questions every day. We kept asking them when can we go. The police told us they are waiting for some information. We felt that they were buying time.

The embassy asked for the phone numbers of Loo and others when the Sin Chew reporter contacted the embassy.

Sin Chew reporter told Loo that he contacted the embassy and if Loo was afraid that he would be sent back to the syndicate, then remained in the police station.

“The people from the syndicate came to the police station last night. We were told that they kept sending money to the officers to buy time and the police kept giving different excuses to find fault with us. For instance, we have signed a contract or we owed money. But we have submitted our resignation and we did not owe money,’’ wrote Loo.

Loo also wrote that the immigration officers in Westport took their passports and told them to change their statement so that the immigration would contact the embassy. Otherwise, they would not be able to leave Cambodia.

Loo already had his handphone this time. He communicated with the Sin Chew reporter through WhatsApp from 11am to 5pm where Loo was guided how to lodge a police report and contact the embassy.

April 7 noon

Embassy officials arrive at police station

Loo said the people from the syndicate persuaded them to return to work. The syndicate even promised to help them leave Cambodia. Loo did not take the officer but called the Embassy of Malaysia.

The police in Westport finally send the Malaysians to Phnom Penh.

At the Phnom Penh police station, the Malaysians were told to record their statements again in a detailed manner.

Embassy officials arrived at the police station the following day.

The Malaysians were taken to a safe place and travel arrangement was made for them to fly back to Malaysia.

Their nightmare is finally over.