UK Non-Governmental Organization Suggests Missing British Teen Might Be Involved in Trafficking Linked to Fraudulent Activities; Mother Urges: 'David, if you can read this, please confirm your safety'
Missing British Teenager David Balisong: Concerns Grow Over Possible Exploitation in Malaysia
A British teenager named David Balisong has been missing in Malaysia for the past three months, sparking concerns from his family and local authorities.
The 17-year-old was last seen at KL Sentral on June 7, a day after arriving in Kuala Lumpur with only a backpack. Balisong's mother, Minerva, has been in Malaysia since July, searching for her son.
According to police investigations, Balisong had begun withdrawing money from his bank account as early as March, raising suspicions that he might have been lured into a scam. Victims of such scams are usually forced to send misleading messages to families to prevent them from raising alarm.
An email received by Balisong's family on June 9 claimed he was in a "safe place" and urged them "not to try to find me." The email bears the hallmarks of scam syndicate tactics, leading Minerva to believe that someone must have influenced her son to take such steps.
Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar suggests that David may leave the country before his visa lapses, while Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed, the police chief in Selangor, has expressed suspicion that Balisong might leave Malaysia before his visa expires.
Online scam syndicates already exist in Malaysia, as evidenced by recent police raids and arrests at call centers in Kuala Lumpur. A major police operation targeting scam call centers in Malaysia took place, including a raid on August 26 in Bangsar South linked to Singaporean fintech firm Doo Group, which led to 400 arrests.
David Balisong was a boy who went to school and came home on time. He did not show any warning signs before his departure, making his disappearance all the more mysterious.
Datuk Hishamuddin Hashim, the secretary-general of the Malaysian International Humanitarian Organisation (MHO), believes David may have been trafficked and exploited. Minerva, David's mother, shares this concern, fearing that her son's interest in cybersecurity and computer skills may have made him vulnerable to exploitation by scam syndicates.
Balisong was searching for jobs in Malaysia via LinkedIn before his disappearance. His travel visa is set to expire today, adding urgency to the search for the missing teenager.
As the search for David Balisong continues, his family and friends urge anyone with information to come forward. If you have any information about David's whereabouts, please contact the authorities immediately.
