Five Taiwanese freed from Myanmar scam rings return to Taiwan

Taipei/Bangkok, Feb. 19 (CNA) Five of the seven Taiwanese nationals freed from Myanmar fraud rings cleared checks by Thai authorities and landed back in Taiwan early Wednesday, according to Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB).

The CIB said they arrived at Taoyuan International Airport at 7:15 a.m.

Upon arrival, police interviewed the five individuals and took statements.

They will also be sent to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office for further questioning to confirm whether they willingly went to Myanmar knowing they would be working for a fraud ring or whether they were victims of human trafficking, the CIB said.

The remaining two Taiwanese nationals are still under investigation and will not be able to leave until all legal proceedings are complete, unnamed sources familiar with the matter told CNA.

According to an English-language press statement by Thailand's military on Feb. 12, 260 foreigners from 20 countries were released by a Myanmar rebel group -- the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) -- and brought to Thailand that day.

It added that they would only be repatriated following checks to ascertain their involvement in the fraud rings.

Taiwan's representative office in Thailand confirmed to CNA that its staffers had accompanied the five released Taiwanese nationals from Mae Sot after they were cleared to leave.

It added that the office had helped them return to Taiwan, without elaborating, but did not mention the whereabouts of the remaining two Taiwanese individuals.