Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigation Department head Supt Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah said the suspects, aged 53 and 60, were arrested in Sibu between 9.30am and 10am today.

“A 40-year-old Iban from Kapit lodged a police report regarding the case at 8.48am today,” he added in a statement.

Based on initial investigations, he said, the victims received a text through WeChat from a man in December last year, offering them jobs in the timber industry.

All eight victims were promised a monthly income of RM8,000 and basic accommodation including lodging, food and transport, with the cost of their flight tickets to be borne by the company.

“They flew to Liberia on Jan 3 and were brought to a village in Mount Barclay.

“However, after a month the victims found that the jobs which were promised to them did not exist,” Mustafa said.

He said they were forced to sell their personal belongings such as their watches and mobile phones in order to survive.

The eight, who arrived from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sibu yesterday, were accompanied by Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii and greeted by DAP and PKR members from Sibu and Selangau.

This is the second incident involving Malaysians who were stranded abroad, following the release of 47 Malaysians who were detained in Cambodia after allegedly being cheated by a job syndicate.