Sophisticated scams lure job seekers into South-East Asia's lawless corners

Photo-Artwork by The Star Graphics Team / Asia News Network.(ANN)

SINGAPORE/BANGKOK, Aug 28 (The Straits Times/ANN): On Aug 18, dozens of Vietnamese dashed out of a casino compound in Cambodia's Kandal province, pursued by men swinging long metal rods. They flung themselves into the Binh Di River in a desperate bid to swim to Vietnam on the other side.

Forty of them got away. Of the remaining two, one was recaptured by casino guards. The other one, a 16-year-old boy, drowned in the turbid waters.