Some Myanmar workers were arrested and facing arrest warrants because online gamblers and money launderers were using their bank accounts, announced the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand.

Myanmar workers holding PJ passports open bank accounts and passbooks in banks arranged by MOU companies when they arrive in Thailand, and when doing so, some Myanmar workers who were not familiar with bank processes followed the instructions of some representatives of the MOU companies and some bank accounts and passbooks were being kept by some representatives, it said.

There were cases where bank accounts and passbooks of Myanmar workers were given to those who gamble online and who wanted to launder money for a fee by the representatives who keep the bank accounts and passbooks of some of these Myanmar workers.

Due to suspicious cases such as inflows and outflows of money in the bank accounts and large amount of savings, the relevant Thai authorities issued summons warrants and arrest warrants to the owners of bank accounts and some Myanmar workers were being detained in prison and fled so the embassy is dealing with those cases, it said.

If Myanmar workers face issuance of such summons and detention, they can seek help from Myanmar Embassy and labour consulate by bringing photo, passport, telephone number, bank name and area where the account was opened, and a photo of the person who assisted them in opening a bank account, announced the Myanmar Embassy.

Myanmar workers needs to be kept bank accounts, passbooks and PIN numbers alone or with the family, announced the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand.