A Taiwanese fire dancer who was kidnapped and held for ransom by a criminal gang in Myanmar last month arrived in Thailand this morning, where he then boarded a flight to Taiwan.
The 27 year-old man, Hsieh Yueh-peng (謝岳鶻), reportedly disappeared after he saw a job invitation on Facebook and traveled to Thailand on Dec. 25 last year, according to the Taoyuan Police Department.
Hsieh was reportedly brought to a scam compound in Myanmar, having last contacted his family on the day he flew to Thailand, police said.
Photo: CNA
Based on phone data, Hsieh’s last known location was in Myanmar, police said.
His family reported him missing to Taiwan’s representative office in Myanmar two days after his disappearance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said earlier this month.
Hsieh asked his family for several tens of thousands of US dollars, telling them he was being held for ransom and forced to commit telecommunications fraud, police said.
With the help of Taiwan’s representative office in Thailand, the Criminal Investigation Bureau, the National Immigration Agency officials, the Taiwan International Anti-Scam Association and the Thailand authorities, Hsieh was released yesterday and traveled to Bangkok from Myanmar that night.
He is to arrive at the Taoyuan Airport this afternoon from Bangkok.
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