Three Taiwanese face fraud charges in Myanmar: MOFA - Taipei Times

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said it received a report about three Taiwanese who have been arrested and indicted in Myanmar for alleged involvement in online fraud.

As part of efforts to crack down on telecom fraud, Myanmar on July 31 enacted the Anti-Online Scam Law, which is the government's first major legislation imposing heavy penalties for perpetrators of online fraud, severe abuse in scam centers and cryptocurrency crimes, MOFA spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said.

"The law applies to foreign offenders, and violators face penalties that may include the death sentence," he said.

Photo: screen grab from a MOFA livestream

The law states, people involved in telecom fraud would face severe criminal liability, rather than being prosecuted under lighter immigration laws or simply deported, Hsiao said.

Meanwhile, Thailand has enacted stricter entry, exit and immigration controls, such as the Prime Minister's Office Regulation on Deportation, which went into effect on Aug. 28, he said.

Under the regulations, foreigners convicted of offenses carrying a prison sentence of five years or more, or who are convicted of illegal entry, overstaying their visa, working without a permit, operating illegal businesses or government document forgery would be deported upon completing their imprisonment and might be banned from re-entry, he said.

Thailand last week announced that it would reduce visa-free travel for nationals of 60 countries, including Taiwan, to 30 days from 60, Hsiao said, adding that the change takes effect on Tuesday next week.

The ministry reminded Taiwanese traveling to Thailand to stay informed of the latest entry regulations prior to departure and not to exploit visa-free privileges by engaging in illegal activities, he said.

The travel advisories are updated on the Bureau of Consular Affairs' Web site, he added.

As combating overseas telecom fraud has become a regional consensus, some Southeast Asian countries have stepped up their efforts to crack down on transnational crime, he said.

The ministry urges people not to fall for promises of high payment, free airfare or free accommodation to engage in illegal activities overseas, which could result in judicial prosecution, Hsiao said.

"Taiwanese are obligated to abide by local laws of any country they visit," he said.

People should cherish the hard-earned visa-free treatment Taiwan has with many countries and safeguard the nation's international reputation.