'I wanted to jump off the building': Victim recounts trafficking horror

New Straits Times

4 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: What began as a job offer turned into a nightmare for 23-year-old Nur Elisha, who was trafficked to Cambodia and forced to work as a scammer.
Living in fear, she was punished with fines, threats — and once, even made to eat chillies for failing to meet daily targets.
A native of Johor Baru with a diploma in office management, Elisha accepted a job offer last November to work as a clerk in Singapore
The opportunity, offered by an old friend, promised a stable income, accommodation, and a chance to support her family.
"She said it was a clerical job in Singapore, no interview needed, everything was arranged.
"At the time, all I could think about was working. I never thought I was being tricked," Elisha told Buletin TV3.
But instead of reporting to an office in Singapore, she was taken from Changi International Airport to an unknown location — eventually arriving in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
There, she was brought into a sealed compound surrounded by high fences and tight security.
She was made to sign a contract written in Mandarin and forced to begin work the next day — not as a clerk, but as a scammer.
"I had never been on a plane before. They said it was part of the company's holiday package before starting work. But the next day, I was made to work straight away as a scammer," she said.
Elisha was instructed to memorise and recite pre-written scam scripts in Malay.
During calls to victims, she had to place her head inside a box to distort her voice. Failure to meet quotas — at least three scams a day — came with the threat of being "sold" to another company.
"They said if the boss feels you're a loss, you'll be sold. The next place is even worse.
Some got beaten up, others were electrocuted. I was the only girl, and I was terrified," she said.
Elisha revealed that her initial salary was RM4,550 at the first company, and US$800 (RM3,500) at the second. But most of her pay was deducted for missing targets or disobeying instructions.
"There was one time I received money, but it all went on fines. I was once made to eat chillies. Some days, I couldn't work at all due to the stress," she said.
On the eve of Hari Raya, workers were told they would be released and allowed to buy festive clothes — but the promise was false.
"I cried while calling my mum. She had bought new clothes for Raya, but I couldn't come home. The boss suddenly said we couldn't leave. Everyone cried," she said.
After several months, some victims managed to escape. Elisha was among the last five left behind.
She was eventually rescued through efforts by her mother, the Malaysian Humanitarian Organisation (MHO), the Malaysian embassy, and Cambodian authorities.
"At one point, I called my mum and told her I wanted to jump off a building. I just couldn't take it anymore," she said.
Her story is a reminder of the deep trauma faced by trafficking victims — and the growing danger of overseas job scams.