At least 38 Hong Kong victims in growing human-trafficking trend, with seventh suspect arrested over job scams luring people to Southeast Asia
- City authorities receive another call for help on Tuesday, while security undersecretary says task force is ‘in contact with Chinese consulates through all channels’
- One of the seven suspects has been brought to court and two others will enter legal proceedings
Undersecretary for Security Michael Cheuk Hau-yip said 17 of the victims were confirmed as safe, of which 12 had returned home, including one who flew back from Thailand on Monday.
But 11 Hongkongers were still believed to be trapped in Myanmar and another 10 in Cambodia, he noted, adding that a seventh suspect in the case had been arrested.
“Our task force is in contact with the Chinese consulates through all channels,” Cheuk told a radio programme on Tuesday morning.
“The organised crime and triad bureau has arrested seven people … One of them has been brought to court, and two others will enter legal proceedings. It is believed all of them belong to the same group.”
The seventh suspect was a 31-year-old man, who was arrested on Monday for conspiracy to defraud, according to the police force.
Among those arrested, police said on Monday that a 23-year-old college student surnamed Cheung was a key syndicate member and was mainly responsible for liaising and controlling his subordinates to recruit victims.
Cheung and a 27-year-old woman were each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud. Both appeared in Eastern Court on Tuesday morning.