Scam victim flies home as sixth arrest made

One more man was arrested over the alleged trafficking of Hong Kong people to take part in boiler room scams in Southeast Asia, taking the number of arrests to six. That came with a 29-year-old man arrested yesterday morning.

Another suspect, Ma Che-ho, 30, appeared in Eastern Magistrates' Court yesterday on a charge of conspiracy to defraud and was remanded in custody until October 17. No plea was taken.

Ma was accused of defrauding a man and woman last month, allegedly claiming the man would receive about HK$217,400 upon arrival in Thailand. The man was then held captive in Myanmar while the woman was scammed of over HK$35,000.

Four men and two women, aged 17 to 51, have so far been arrested for conspiracy to defraud. They allegedly coaxed victims on social media to Thailand for nonexistent well-paid jobs but were abducted to Myanmar or Cambodia.

Another victim returned to Hong Kong from Bangkok yesterday.

Security Bureau pictures show a man in a wheelchair with some officers from the Immigration Department around him.

A bureau spokesman said the man had sought help from an Immigration Department unit that assists residents.

He had returned with the help of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, the Chinese embassy in Bangkok, the government special task force and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok.

Meanwhile, the undersecretary for security, Michael Cheuk Hau-yip, said on radio that another person has come forward to say there was a further victim of trafficking gangs.

Cheuk said the authorities are now aware of 37 victims, including 23 people still held captive in Myanmar and Cambodia.

He declined to comment whether family members should pay ransoms in rescuing their loved ones, saying authorities would provide "all practical assistance" to secure safe returns.

"For family members it's important that they contact authorities first, either the Immigration Department's assistance unit or police," he said.

"We will handle the cases together and provide advice on what to do."

Another alleged mastermind arrested earlier, a 23-year-old student named Cheung, was still being detained yesterday.

It is understood Cheung lived on Ping Chau with his parents for five years. He also has a live-in girlfriend.

A neighbor told media that Cheung's mother worked in a foreign mission.

And the neighbor was surprised the "shy" boy was involved in a trafficking scam.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com

bowie.tse@singtaonewscorp.com