CNI News

2 August 2022

U Bri from MWRN told CNI that there was a fraud of over 80,000 Baht (over 4,000,000 MMK) from the Burmese people who are held in custody in Thailand Immigration Detention Centre in the south of Thailand, that person saying that she would help them release with 18,000 Baht (over 900,000 MMK) per person.

“Some of the relatives and acquaintances imprisoned here used to work in the construction site in Thailand. A Thai broker told them that she would make to release them all with 18,000 Baht per person and their parents transferred the money to her from Myanmar, the total amount is 81,000 Baht. That money hadn’t been gotten back yet. The people from the custody called me and asked for help. I have known that broker since a long time ago. She has been like that since before and there are so many people who got tricked by her,” he said.

When they call and ask that broker to give the money back, it is known that she told them to allow her some time until 9^th. Those who were detained are the ones who illegally entered Thailand. It is said that they are sent to the repatriation camp only after they have served their prison terms.

A place in the prison where migrant workers are being detained

Besides, it is also known that only those who bribe the Thai authorities with money are added to the repatriation list.

“Now some ask up to 6000-7000 Baht. If they don’t pay, they threatened like they will be imprisoned in the Din Nort Immigration Detention centre for 6 to 7 months and even up to 8 months, like that. And, they asked for the phone numbers of parents in Myanmar, called and told them like if the money is sent today, then 6000 Baht is the deal and if tomorrow, the deal price will be 7000 Baht. So, as parents feel anxious about their children, they borrowed money with every little possession they own and sent the money. Actually, in the legal way, those held in the prison do not need to pay travel expenses. According to Thailand’s law, they can be sent back to the border with the government’s budget,” he said.

It was reported that Thai authorities and interpreters joined hands together to ask for the money from the people who were in prisons, and the travel cost does not even cost 1,000 Baht per person.