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        "rendered": "<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>September 2026 \u2014\u00a0Two traffickers have been sentenced to more than 37 years in prison for recruiting Myanmar nationals with fake job advertisements and forcing them into online scamming in Cambodia. This significant ruling marks an important step toward justice for survivors of forced scamming.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a landmark decision, Thailand&#8217;s Criminal Court has convicted two Thai nationals for trafficking nine Myanmar nationals to scam compounds in Cambodia, where they were <strong>forced to conduct online scams and subjected to severe abuse<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The case involved three friends, Thura*, Zeya* and Htet* who first came to Thailand in their 20s from Myanmar and spent years working in the tailoring industry. But when COVID-19 hit, their tailor shops closed, and the trio lost their jobs. An acquaintance came across a waiter job at a casino advertised on Facebook promising a monthly salary, along with free lodging and food. With no job prospects and mounting pressure to support their families, they decided to take the opportunity. To their shock and horror, they \u2014 along with six others \u2014 were taken instead to a scam compound in Cambodia. There, they were forced to meet daily targets scamming potential victims abroad by impersonating attractive women online and convincing them to invest in cryptocurrency. Under constant surveillance, they were made to work long hours with little rest and faced physical and verbal abuse, all under the looming threat of punishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eventually, all nine survivors were brought to safety in 2021 through a <strong>coordinated cross-border effort<\/strong> involving Cambodian authorities, the Myanmar Embassy, and IJM teams in Cambodia and Thailand. They were safely repatriated to Myanmar in 2022. Following their repatriation, several survivors made the courageous decision to return to Thailand to pursue justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;We are relieved that they have been safely repatriated to Myanmar. Their families had been deeply concerned for their safety. Their courage in seeking justice is truly inspiring, and their hope for a better life in Thailand reflects immense strength despite the challenges they faced.&#8221;<\/em> \u2013 Naw Emerald San Minn, Country Director, IJM Myanmar<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Between 2022 and 2023, five survivors supported ongoing investigations through interviews, suspect sketches, and perpetrator identification. Their determination to pursue justice, <strong>despite significant personal risk and hardship<\/strong>, was critical in securing this conviction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The case file was submitted to the Thai public prosecutor in 2024. Two Thai suspects were subsequently arrested in 2025 and formally charged. Throughout the court proceedings, IJM Thailand lawyers served as co-plaintiffs alongside the public prosecutor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The case concluded in 2026, with both defendants being found guilty of human trafficking. Each was sentenced to <strong>37 years and 6 months in prison<\/strong>. The court also ordered the defendants to jointly pay compensation to five survivors, an important step toward justice and a clear message that these crimes will not be tolerated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;Today&#8217;s conviction sends an important message that cross-border trafficking networks can and will be held accountable. This outcome is a testament to the courage of the survivors, who chose to pursue justice despite hardship, and to the strong collaboration between governments and partners across the region.&#8221;<\/em> \u2013 Andrew Wasuwongse, Country Director, IJM Thailand<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, the survivors involved in the legal case are living and working in safety. After enduring extreme exploitation, they have rebuilt their lives with stable employment and ongoing support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI\u2019m very grateful to IJM from Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar. They help us a lot and they give us full support. Because of them, we are very happy right now. Thank you so much.\u201d \u2014 Htet<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since 2021, IJM has supported nearly 1789 survivors of trafficking into forced scamming in Thailand and contributed to 17 convictions. This case adds to growing momentum to disrupt transnational trafficking networks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ijmhk.org\/en\/our-work\/forced-scamming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about our work to tackle forced scamming.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*Names changed to protect identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>",
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