THREE Malaysians, who were beaten up and held captive in Bangkok by a Macau Scam syndicate masterminded by a Taiwanese, were today put on a plane home.

A Royal Malaysia Police representative at the Malaysian embassy in Bangkok, Superintendent Ridzuan Abdul Aziz, said the two men, aged 19 and 22, as well as a 19-year-old woman, were rescued in a raid conducted by Thai police on October 27 last year, following information received from the embassy.

“The three Malaysian victims had been illegally confined, assaulted and forced to work by the syndicate, masterminded by a Taiwanese national,” he told Bernama today.

“Upon being rescued, the woman said she had been cheated into working in Bangkok. She suffered injuries to various parts of her body and legs after being beaten up with an iron rod by one of the syndicate members.”

In the raid, Thai police arrested a 29-year-old Taiwanese man, believed to be the mastermind of the syndicate.

Ridzuan said the three victims had become the main witnesses for Thai police in the case, and were placed at the Witness Protection Centre in Bangkok during their remand period.

He said all three received compensation from the Thai Justice Department.

It was reported that in the raid, Thai police also arrested three Malaysians, who are now held at the Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok.

The three, comprising two men, aged 22 and 27, and a 21-year-old woman, are being remanded as court witnesses.

A day after the raid, Thai police conducted a follow-up operation, in which they nabbed a Malaysian man, aged 19, from Malacca.

Ridzuan said it was believed that the suspect’s job was to recruit individuals to work for the syndicate.

A Thai police source said the suspect denied being involved with the syndicate or the Taiwanese man.

He was arrested by Thai police upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport from Malaysia. – Bernama, January 19, 2018.