The Thai Assistance Center has located "On," a dancer from Kratae's team, and his girlfriend after they were detained at the O'Samred checkpoint in Cambodia. They may be charged with illegal entry, and efforts are being made to negotiate their return to Thailand.
Following widespread online sharing of announcements searching for a dancer from Kratae's team who mysteriously disappeared, it has now been confirmed that they were deceived into crossing the border into Cambodia and detained by Cambodian authorities at the O'Samred checkpoint, as previously reported.
In the latest update on 5 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Bird, a representative of the Eastern Region Thai Assistance Center (IMF), revealed that efforts to assist Mr. Pongsakorn Phuenpharam, known as “On,” a dancer from Kratae's team, are proving difficult. This is due to the public sharing of the release location coordinates on social media, prompting Cambodian authorities to intercept and detain the victims, including On, his girlfriend, and three friends, five people in total, at the O'Samred checkpoint opposite Surin Province.
They are currently under Cambodian authorities' custody and may initially face charges of "illegal entry," punishable by about eight months in prison. Additionally, they risk facing online fraud charges that could increase their total sentence to over one year.
The IMF team continues to coordinate through all channels to negotiate their swift return to Thailand. However, if unsuccessful, the victims will have to go through Cambodia's legal process. They remain in contact with the victims intermittently, though each communication incurs high costs. The conclusion timeline of the legal proceedings remains uncertain.
Bird provided further information about the criminal groups deceiving Thais into overseas work, typically using two main methods: 1. Using weapons to threaten victims into meeting in Bangkok, then confiscating their phones and forcing them at gunpoint to cross the border, cutting off their ability to seek help; and 2. Drugging victims by mixing substances or intoxicants into their food and drinks until they lose consciousness, then smuggling them across to neighboring countries.
The IMF center warns the public, especially teenagers and students during school breaks, to be cautious of online job pages claiming easy work with good pay, offering free transportation and accommodation. If such offers include paying travel expenses and providing pick-up vehicles and well-maintained housing before verifying the company's legitimacy, one should suspect a scam due to the high risk of deception.