Malaysia

Sabah youth rescued from Cambodia job scam returns home safely

A young man from Keningau is back in Sabah after being duped by a job syndicate and held in Cambodia for two weeks.

Updated 1 year ago · Published on 30 Mar 2025 7:07PM

Sabah youth rescued from Cambodia job scam returns home safely
Jerry Jaimeh speaks to reporters upon the arrival of the job scam victim at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport - March 30, 2025

by Jason Santos

A SABAHAN youth who was lured overseas by a fake job offer has been brought home after being rescued from a scam syndicate operating in Cambodia.

The victim, from Keningau, landed at Kota Kinabalu International Airport last night after transiting through Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) Sabah’s chief operating officer Jerry Jaimeh said his team launched the rescue operation shortly after receiving a report from the victim’s family on March 25.

“We worked closely with Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the family to secure his release,” Jerry said during a brief press conference after welcoming the victim at the airport. 

He said job scams continued to target Malaysians—especially those in rural areas—due to low awareness about such syndicates.

“Though we’ve seen many of these cases, people are still falling into the trap. More awareness campaigns are clearly needed,” he said.

The victim, who asked not to be named, said he had been offered what sounded like a lucrative job as a security guard but ended up being confined and watched around the clock by multiple guards.

“I was there for about two weeks. They didn’t hurt me, maybe because I was new,” he said, but declined to share further details. - March 30, 2025 

Related News

Malaysia / 6h

Southeast Asia’s booming scam industry eyes Malaysia

Malaysia / 3d

Sabah embarks on five-year initiative to document multiethnic heritage - Hajiji

Malaysia / 5d

Anwar - Sabah's special grant interim payment increased from RM600m to RM1.5b

Malaysia / 5d

Anwar to clarify Sabah 40 pct entitlement talks tomorrow

Malaysia / 6d

Sabah: GRS confident government will agree to review revenue entitlement rate 

Malaysia / 1w

Main Sandakan-Lahad Datu road in Sukau collapses, thousands of users affected

Spotlight

Malaysia

Former head of a ministry's corporate communications unit acquitted of bribery charge

Malaysia

Two sisters die trapped in Johor house fire as escape routes cut off by flames

Malaysia

NS election speculation intensifies as Aminuddin granted audience with state ruler

Malaysia

Teenager who drove recklessly, causing death remanded for further investigation

Malaysia

Police looking for trio involved in violent armed robbery in Penang (video)

Malaysia

Family of five killed as car crashes into water pipe in Serian

Malaysia

'I was once spat on by a pakcik' — Marina denies fear of contesting Malay-majority seats

Malaysia

Jewellery shop among six premises destroyed in fire (video)

You may be interested

Malaysia

Family of five killed as car crashes into water pipe in Serian

Malaysia

Minor earthquake shakes Kundasang as residents report feeling tremors

Malaysia

Toh Puan Na'imah’s legal team cautions against ‘dangerous’ application of SOSMA

Malaysia

METMalaysia urges calm after tremors felt across Sabah, Sarawak following minor earthquakes

Malaysia

PH Negeri Sembilan emergency meeting discusses PRN preparations

Malaysia

Jewellery shop among six premises destroyed in fire (video)

Malaysia

Man charged in Butterworth parang attack case that left victim fearing permanent disability

Malaysia

NS election speculation intensifies as Aminuddin granted audience with state ruler