BANGKOK – A 21-year-old Thai man who recently escaped a forced labor scam compound in Poipet, Cambodia has provided a chilling firsthand account of systematic torture and international captivity. The survivor disclosed that approximately 80 South Korean nationals were among the prisoners subjected to brutal conditions in the heavily guarded facility.

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The victim, whose identity remains protected, described being beaten with a baseball bat after refusing to participate in scamming operations. He eventually secured limited mobility within the prison-like complex by reporting internal fraud to a Chinese ringleader. His account revealed a meticulously organized operation where captives were segregated by nationality, with Thai, African, and large groups of Korean nationals held on separate floors. The man reported frequently hearing screams and sounds of torture emanating from the third floor where Korean captives were held.

#Scambodia's scam centers need to be terminated. Just like that corrupt @hunsencambodia and its lackeys.https://t.co/Ziw4icXUI4

— Quapadople (@EduardVimard) October 17, 2025

According to his testimony, those who resisted their captors faced severe punishment including electric shocks and physical beatings. Freedom typically required payment of ransom starting at 37,000 baht. The survivor characterized the operation as a “black business” and urged fellow Thais considering overseas work offers to exercise extreme caution, describing his experience as a “living hell.”

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His testimony has highlighted the transnational nature of scam operations in Cambodia and the urgent need for coordinated regional intervention.

-Thailand News (TN)