Chinese national rescued after being trafficked to Myanmar: Embassy in Thailand
A Chinese national surnamed Zhong has been rescued after being lured to Myanmar and illegally detained, according to a statement released by the Chinese Embassy in Thailand on Friday.
The embassy said Zhong had been rescued following joint efforts by multiple parties, adding that Chinese nationals should be vigilant about overseas "high-paying job" scams. The embassy also emphasized that foreign nationals working in Thailand must obtain proper authorization.
According to a report by Beijing Daily on Thursday, citing the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, the embassy is closely following the case of a Chinese national who went missing near the Thailand-Myanmar border. It is staying in close contact with the family and working with relevant Myanmar authorities to speed up the investigation, making every effort to ensure the safety and legal rights of Chinese national in the country.
Zhong, a model from South China's Guangdong Province, received an offer on June 8 to appear on a magazine cover, according to his sister. He then flew from Guangzhou to Thailand. On June 13, he informed the family that he had been trafficked to Myanmar but did not reveal his exact location, China National Radio (CNR) reported on Friday.
He then lost contact with them. In response, his sister filed police reports in both Guangzhou and Bangkok, and a case was officially opened.
His sister said Zhong had just finished university. Because money was tight at home, he found work as a freelance model and often picked up small gigs to help out, CNR reported.
One of his former employers lured him to Myanmar with the promise of a magazine cover shoot. "He told me he had worked with the person before, so he let his guard down," Zhong's sister said, according to CNR.
On June 26, Zhong's sister received a notice from the public security bureau in Guangzhou's Panyu District, saying they had officially launched an investigation on the grounds that Zhong had been illegally detained.