When I turned 7, I learned that ‘my parents’ were actually foster parents. They told me that my biological parents had sold me shortly after I was born for the equivalent of $1000, since they could not afford to raise me.
When I turned 13, my foster parents sent me to Phnom Penh… Two men said that if I didn’t have any relatives, I could stay with them… Since they were older, I assumed they were safe to live with so I agreed. When we arrived to their home, I saw 15 girls who were strung out on drugs. I felt afraid but was told me everything would be alright. I was introduced to a man called Tiger II. After a week, Tiger II ordered me to have sex with a man on video but I refused… He ordered someone to inject me with drugs. I could no longer refuse because I had no control. I had to do what they wanted which was to be filmed having sex with [other men]...
This torture continued for 20 days and they subdued me with drugs… Tiger II ordered me to sell drugs, sell my body... [and] steal, pickpocket, and cheat my customers by taking their money and motorbikes. If I didn’t make [enough money], they punished me by stripping and beating me with a stick until I fainted, electrocuting me, cutting me and pouring salt water on the cuts, and placing my hands into a bamboo press for up to 20 minutes. To numb the pain, I began taking more drugs… which made me feel invincible and unafraid. They forced me to sleep with as many as 50 customers a day. I had to give Tiger II all my money, but I secretly hid $5 from each customer. I worked for Tiger II for almost 2 years.
Eventually I gained their trust, and they watched me less carefully. One night, I took the money I had saved and stole an additional $500 from the boss in order to run away with a friend… I tried to find work in a factory, but nobody would hire me so I started working at a massage parlor.
One day, the police arrived and closed down the parlor. I was very scared that I would be arrested, but they told me they wanted to help me.
Narrative source Youth Underground, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing human trafficking through youth education, awareness-raising and advocacy.
Original narrative can be found here:
facebook.com/YouthUnderground.CH/posts/1594640860571383
