15th January 2025 – (Beijing) Zhang Jixiao, a doctoral researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has spoken out about his year-long ordeal in a scam operation in Myanmar’s KK Park. Zhang was lured to Myanmar in August 2022 under the pretence of a translation job in Singapore, only to find himself trapped in a web of deception and violence.
Zhang’s journey began with a desperate need to fund medical treatments for his ill family members and girlfriend. Seeking employment, he encountered a fraudulent recruitment agency that promised lucrative work opportunities abroad. It wasn’t long before he was trafficked to Myanmar, where he was forced to work 18-hour days pretending to be an Asian woman in online scams targeting men in North America.
In a recent interview with Global Times, Zhang revealed the brutal conditions he endured. He described being restrained and beaten with a thick wooden stick, resulting in severe injuries that left his lower body swollen and discoloured. “They pinned me down and struck me repeatedly,” he recounted, adding that the violence left him in a state of confusion and unable to stand.
Zhang was not alone in his suffering; he was confined in a makeshift cage along with others who had also fallen victim to the scam. Some were punished for attempting to escape, while others were reprimanded for perceived laziness. They were forced to stand for hours, their hands cuffed to steel bars.
The situation changed when news of his plight began circulating on Chinese social media, which drew the attention of the KK Park’s management. Fearing repercussions, they increased his rations, ultimately leading to Zhang’s release in September 2023 after extensive efforts from various parties to secure his safe return.
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