Left for dead, job scam victim on the mend

A JOB scam victim who was rescued and brought home to Malaysia after employers left him for dead in Thailand has finally been able to walk again after months of treatment, reported Sin Chew Daily.

Following three months of physical therapy, 35-year-old Chen is now able to climb stairs by holding on to the bannister, according to photos his mother shared with the media.

It was earlier reported that Thai authorities deported Chen to Malaysia in June this year.

Emaciated and unable to walk on his own, Chen was immediately rushed to Hospital Alor Setar.

He was later sent back to Mentakab, Pahang, by ambulance to be with his family.

Having lost 20kg and being traumatised by his experience in Thailand, Chen was unable to communicate what happened to him in the last few months.

His family only knew that Chen took up what was advertised as a chef’s role and travelled to Thailand in January.

In the six months he was away, Chen’s parents received one phone call from him saying he had “fallen into a trap”, after which he was not contactable.

Chen is currently receiving support from Mentakab assemblyman Woo Chee Wan who has been providing the family with groceries and arranging for Chen to receive medical treatment.

It was earlier reported that Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan said police had received 182 reports involving 226 Malaysians who have fallen victim to job scams in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand between 2021 and March 2022.

He added that 62 Malaysians have been rescued so far, while 164 others continue to be held captive.

> Malaysian singer Nicholas Teo has signed on to a new Chinese record label, Headline Music, sparking speculation that the artiste is looking to expand into China, Sin Chew Daily also reported.

The 40-year-old from Kuching recently saw a resurgence in popularity after appearing on reality TV series Sisters Who Make Waves and Promise of The Stars together with former co-star Cyndi Wang.

Viewers were overcome with nostalgia seeing the two, who shot to stardom in the 2006 romantic-comedy Smiling Pasta, on screen together again.

As a result of his rising fame, fans could be seen queuing outside his quarantine hotel in Yunnan, China, passing him handwritten letters and hoping to get his autograph in August this year.

Fans are hoping to see more of the singer on TV as well as for a new album from him.

“All the best in your career!” one fan wrote.

● The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.