Feare emerged yesterday that 15 human trafficking victims thought to have been working in a juice factory in Thailand have been resold elsewhere, a rights group worker said yesterday.

A total of 57 residents of Pursat province’s Bakan district are believed to have been cheated into working in Thailand, with the promise of well-paid work at a car factory.

In fact, they were made to work in a juice factory in Thailand’s Suphan Buri district  – where their lives were allegedly threatened.

A group of 17 Cambodians, who fled the factory late last month, told The Post that they were not paid for their work and were told they would be shot by the factory owner if they ran away.

Since then, another 12 workers have returned to the Pursat province.

The 29 returnees met with representatives of rights group Licadho yesterday in Pursat province to discuss their experiences.

Soeng Senkaruna, a provincial monitor for Licadho, said: “We advised them to request a lawyer, as we have lawyers to help them.

“We also told them about what they could face when they go to work illegally in another country.”

Suspected broker Sam Chhunleng, 43, was charged with unlawful recruitment for exploitation last month, while another suspect is being investigated.

“But we are worried about the rest of the workers among the 57 people who were cheated to work in juice factory in Thailand.

“We heard that there are 15 people who were sold to another place,” Soeng Senkaruna added yesterday.

Victim Chhun Chhornly, 28, said yesterday that he had received good advice from Licadho.

The group warned them to be careful while accepting work abroad, he said.

“They told us that before we decided to go to work in abroad, we have to find out or contact to company in order to make sure that we will safe and the company will protect us from abuses,” he said.

Chhun Chhornly said that he will spread the information to his friends, relatives and neighbours in order to them know before they go to work abroad.

“We would not be cheated if the local authorities explained or gave advice to us about this before,” said Chhun Chhornly.

He added that he had filed a document to request a lawyer for the upcoming case with the alleged broker.