Missing Singaporean woman found in Cambodia says she was not forced into scam activities
Aishah Siregar said in a video that she went to Cambodia to work as an English teacher.
Ms Aishah Siregar, who unexpectedly left her family for Cambodia, is seen after she was found by Cambodian police. (Photo: Cambodian Information Ministry)
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SINGAPORE: A 20-year-old Singaporean woman who was found safe in Cambodia after she was reported missing said on Saturday (Aug 1) that she travelled there of her own accord to work as an English teacher, denying that she had been forced or was involved in criminal activities.
In a video released after Cambodian police located her in the country, Ms Aishah Siregar said she left Singapore because she found life stressful and wanted to "find my own path".
"It is entirely my choice," she said, adding that she had not been forced or scammed into travelling to Cambodia.
"To clarify once again, I have not been involved or been forced to partake in any scamming activities or any criminal activities," she added in a video statement obtained by CNA from Cambodian authorities.
The one-minute video, taken at the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Headquarters, was released after Singapore police on Friday said Cambodian authorities had found Ms Aishah safe in the country.
Cambodia's Ministry of Interior also reportedly said she told investigators that she had travelled to the country because of personal family issues and had deliberately cut off communication with her family after leaving Singapore.
Citing findings by the Secretariat of the Commission for Combating Online Scams, the Khmer Times reported that she left Singapore on Jul 28 aboard Emirates flight EK-348 and arrived at Techo International Airport later that day.
Before she went missing, Ms Aishah’s last message to her mother said she was going to school.
However, when her family prepared to pick her up as usual, they discovered that her WhatsApp and Telegram accounts had been deleted. Her phone line was also dead when they attempted to call her.
The family returned home to find her passport missing and lodged a police report. They later discovered a flight itinerary in her emails for a trip to Cambodia.
It raised the family’s fears that Ms Aishah was lured to Cambodia by a scammer, and the family appealed publicly for help.
Cambodia has been linked to scam compounds and online fraud operations that have drawn international scrutiny in recent years.
Her older brother Syafiq Siregar said in a public statement on Sunday that his sister had returned safely to Singapore.
Apologising on behalf of the family, Mr Syafiq said: "In this situation, my sister went missing without providing any updates on her whereabouts. We also found large transactions made to a person we did not know. We could only think of the worst, and I believe any parent or sibling would have thought the same."
"Our intentions was never to hurt the feelings of the people of Cambodia, but only to find our sister and bring her home safely. We are unable to control what the public or media say, report, or speculate. I hope you can understand the fear and desperation our family felt."
He also said the family acknowledged his sister's account that she felt "restricted and stressed", adding they would take her feelings and concerns seriously and address them privately and respectfully.
"While we are deeply relieved that Aishah has been found safe, we are also saddened by the speculation and negative comments directed at our family. Those who know us as a family understand the close bond and care we have always shared," he added.
