Sixth Hong Kong suspect arrested over human-trafficking case involving job scams, with at least 37 victims lured to Southeast Asia and held against will

Man, 29, detained on Monday on suspicion to defraud a day after five others were picked up

One victim returns to the city on Monday – the first to do so with the help of authorities since a task force was set up last week

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Hong Kong authorities are warning residents against bogus job or love scams online luring them into forced labour in Southeast Asia. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 12:25pm, 22 Aug 2022Updated: 10:32pm, 22 Aug 2022

Hong Kong police have arrested a sixth suspect linked to employment scams in which at least 37 residents were coaxed into travelling to Southeast Asia, held captive and forced to work illegally.

The development came as a victim returned to the city on Monday – the first to do so with the help of authorities since a task force was set up last week.

Earlier in the day, a 29-year-old man was detained on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud after five residents were arrested on Sunday in connection with the scams.

One of the suspects, Ma Che-hou, 30, was provisionally charged with conspiracy to defraud and brought to Eastern Court on Monday morning.

Ma, who lives in Ma On Shan, was accused of duping victim Ng Sik-ming by falsely claiming Ng would receive 1,000,000 baht (US$27,878) in Thailand, and later imprisoning him in Myanmar. He also allegedly swindled a woman named Ng Pui-lam out of HK$35,530 (US4,555).

The male victim who made it back on Monday had reportedly raised money to pay for his release from his captors and returned to Thailand from Myanmar last week.