DSI’s Bureau of Human Trafficking Crime, IMF and Destiny Rescue aid 19 trafficked victims rescued from a call center in Cambodia

DSI’s Bureau of Human Trafficking Crime, IMF and Destiny Rescue aid 19 trafficked victims rescued from a call center in Cambodia

       On Friday, June 17, 2022, the Immanuel Foundation (IMF) requested the DSI to rescue about 70 victims who was working in a call center in China Town, Sihanoukville, Cambodia. They were forced to scam people, threatened to be kept in detention or reselling if they refused to work or failed to reach the quota as well as being punished by electric shocks. Mr. Triyarith Temahivong, (the Director-General of the DSI) assigned Pol.Lt.Col. Supat Thamthanarug (a Deputy Director-General of the DSI) to order Pol.Maj.  Siriwish Chantechasitkul (the Director of the Bureau of Human Trafficking Crime) to submit a request via the Police Attaché stationed at the Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh and the victims were successfully rescued by the Cambodian authority. The Destiny Rescue Foundation in Cambodia acted as the coordinator and transported the victims from Phnom Penh to Poipet. There were 19 victims returning to Thailand through the Ban Khlong Luk permanent border checkpoint, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province on June 20, 2022. The said victims, via the IMF, requested inquiring into the case and prosecution by the DSI.

       On June 21-22, 2022, the officers of the Bureau of Human Trafficking Crime, together with the multidisciplinary team comprising the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and the Department of Employment, interviewed to screen the 15 victims out of 19 victims at the Human Trafficking Victim Identification Center, DSI Academy, Nong Chok District, Bangkok. All of the 15 victims were identified as trafficked victims, while the other 4 victims were under the preparation for such interview. The DSI will investigate and inquire for prosecution against the offenders and request cooperation from Cambodia to further prosecute against offenders abroad.