Burmese worker rejects Ukrainian's claims

The Department of Special Investigation has located the Burmese worker who helped a Ukrainian engineer to escape the clutches of an oxygen factory where he claimed he had been held captive for 14 years.

DSI officials said the Burmese worker's information was inconsistent with that of the Ukrainian's.

DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit said investigators had questioned the Burmese who got involved in the case when he notified Anatoliy Vdovychenko's family of his plight.

The man rejected a claim by Mr Vdovychenko that he had been confined to the Navanakorn Gas (2005) Co factory and forced to work for 14 years without pay.

Mr Tharit said the Burmese, who lives in Samut Prakan, told investigators Mr Vdovychenko was not intimidated, threatened or confined while working at the factory.

The man's work permit, however, had expired, which might have led to a pay dispute with the factory management, he was quoted as saying.

The DSI chief said more witnesses would have to be questioned to determine whether human trafficking charges apply in the case.

He said even though there was no evidence of detention as claimed by the Ukrainian, the factory did take away his passport.

He said the DSI had not yet accepted the dispute as a special case. It would hand its findings to local police if there was no further progress in the investigation.

Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang district police station has already filed charges against the factory's owner for illegally hiring a foreign worker and not paying him full wages.