Three Thais arrested for crossing the border near Poipet illegally

Three Thai men were detained last night after sneaking back into Thailand from Poipet town in Cambodia.

The Thai army apprehended them near the border in Sa Kaeo province. Two, identified only as Sunate, 47, and Panupong, 37, told the Burapha Task Force that they had been lured to Poipet with promises of high-paying jobs, but were instead detained in a hotel without being given any work.

After realising that they had been deceived, the two attempted to escape back to Thailand. They were caught while trying to sneak through barbed wire fencing along the border.

The third man, Thotsawat, 35, was found the same night climbing over a fence near a train station. He said he had been contacted via Facebook with a job offer to work as an online administrator in Poipet, also promising high pay.

Upon arrival, however, he was forced to work for a scam network and was assaulted daily for two weeks.

Eventually, the gang abandoned him and he made his way back to Thailand. All three were taken to a police station and charged with illegal entry.