Researcher lured by gang in Myanmar rescued

A former academic researcher who was tricked into working for telecom fraud gangs in Myawaddy township, Myanmar, more than a year ago has been rescued, Chinese media reported on Friday.

The public has been closely following the high-profile case of the man, identified as Zhang Shi, as people were shocked to learn that a well-educated person could become a victim of telecom fraud gangs.

A source that has been providing assistance to the rescue mission said Zhang was rescued in Myawaddy on Thursday and taken to Thailand the same day, according to Beijing News.

The Chinese embassy in Myanmar and its counterpart in Thailand were both involved in the case. The source added that Zhang, 34, is safe and will later return to China.

Zhang's girlfriend, surnamed Yang, earlier told the media that like many who are trapped in such schemes, Zhang had been tempted by the promise of a significant income by gang members.

While he was working as a researcher for the Chinese Academy of Sciences at a botanical park in Jiangxi province last year, Yang said Zhang had told that an agency had offered him a high-paying job in Southeast Asia as a translator. He told her he could use the money to pay off his debts and marry her.