NTB Police Set P3MI Kacab In Mataram Suspect TIP, Ask For Deposit Of IDR 40 Million To Work In Taiwan

Dirreskrimum Polda NTB Kombes Teddy Ristiawan/ANTARA/Dhimas B.P.)

Regional Police Investigators (Polda) West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) have named a branch head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Departure Company (P3MI) based in Majeluk, Mataram City as one of three suspects in the alleged crime of trafficking in persons (TPPO).

"So in this case, three people were named as suspects for TIP. First, the initials RD, a woman is the head of the PT PSM (P3MI) branch who non-procedural CPMI placement process to Taiwan by receiving deposits from suspects J and S as field workers (recruiters)," said Director of General Criminal Investigation (Dirreskrimum) of the NTB Police Kombes Teddy Ristiawan in Mataram as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 6.

Based on the results of the case title, investigators named the three as suspects under the suspicion of Article 10 and/or Article 11 in conjunction with Article 4 of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons and/or Article 83 jo. Article 68 jo. Article 5 and/or Article 86 jo. Article 72 of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers.

Against the three suspects, he continued, investigators have followed up on the detention process. However, only two suspects were detained at the NTB Police Detention Center.

"For the two suspects, RD and S were detained at the NTB Police Detention Center. For another, the initials J, we did not make arrests because the person concerned was serving a sentence at the West Lombok Prison with a fraud case," he said.

The police handled a case that led to the alleged non-procedural TIP and PMI recruitment trials starting with a report of 53 Indonesian Migrant Workers Candidates (CPMI) who felt they had been harmed by PT PSM.

"The 53 CPMIs felt aggrieved by PT PSM because more than a year they had not been dispatched to Taiwan and this problem continued to repeat itself against other victims. So, the total number of victims was 132 people, but 53 people reported," he said.

Teddy said 53 victims from North Lombok Regency were under the recruitment of suspect S and recruitment in Mataram City under the control of suspect J. CPMI who recruited S as many as 45 people, then from J as many as eight people.

Of each CPMI, the two suspects who acted as recruiters charged a minimum of IDR 40 million by promising to work in the construction and factory sectors in Taiwan.

Investigators have also recorded losses from 132 CPMI victims who did not get confirmation of when to go to Taiwan. The value of the loss reached Rp. 2 billion.

"In total, from 132 CPMIs, the loss was Rp. 1.9 billion, almost Rp. 2 billion. However, we focus on victims who report, those from North Lombok and Mataram, the loss is Rp. 641 million," said Teddy.

He said the money had been deposited by suspects S and J to RD as PT PSM's Kacab. The victim, who did not also receive confirmation of departure, expressed disappointment by asking for a refund.

"Until now, the victims have only received a sweet promise from RD. Until this issue entered the police, said Teddy, none of the victims had received a return from RD.

"On the basis of the money, it did not return, this victim reported it to us," he said.

According to the police, PT PSM is recruiting not in accordance with the Decree of the Head of the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP2MI) Number 785 of 2022 concerning the Cost of Placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers.

"In the decision of the Head of BP2MI, to work in Taiwan, there is a cost, a value of Rp. 22 million. However, by PT PSM, it costs Rp. 40 million and above. What we see is not in accordance with the rules," said Teddy.

In addition, PT PSM's Indonesian Migrant Worker Recruitment Permit (SIP2MI) was revealed to have expired. Teddy revealed this based on a request for information from BP2MI which had revoked PT PSM's SIP2M in August 2022.

"So PT PSM operates without the support of SIP2MI issued by BP2MI. Other issues related to Taiwan countries that also do not open job orders to work in the construction and factory sectors," he said.