Riau Islands Police Arrest Suspect Of Sending Illegal Migrant Workers Whose Ship Sank In Malaysia

BATAM - The Riau Islands Police team has again arrested a suspect with the initials ES in connection with sending illegal Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) to Malaysia using a ship that sank in the waters of Malaysia's Johor Bahru.

"Ditkrimum has secured one more suspect with the initials ES, female gender," said Head of Public Relations of the Riau Islands Police Kombes Harry Goldenhardt in Batam, Riau Islands, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, January 11.

Suspect ES, who is seven months pregnant, is still part of a syndicated network of illegal PMI shipments along with four people who have been previously named suspects.

"The person concerned plays a role in managing and facilitating eight PMIs to go abroad without being equipped with official documents through the people's port," he said.

Together with the suspect, the police secured a number of evidences, including communication tools and a savings book in the name of the person concerned.

The suspect ES was charged with the Law on the Eradication of Trafficking in Persons, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years and a maximum fine of Rp.

"This is a success and seriousness of the Dircrimum Polda Kepri in uncovering the syndicate network of illegal PMI sending abroad," he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of Criminal Investigation at the Riau Islands Police, Kombes Jefri Siagian, stated that ES, who lives on Jalan Merpati, Tanjungpinang City, Riau Islands, was arrested at his family home in Putri Hijau District, North Bengkulu, Bengkulu Province on January 8, 2022.

Investigators have received information on the suspect's whereabouts in Bengkulu on Saturday (8/1). On that same day, at around 17.40, the team of investigators arrested the suspect ES, assisted by the Putri Hijau Police.

When arrested, ES admitted that he did not know he was wanted by the police because he had left Batam since December 10, 2021.

"This is his confession. However, we are not pursuing the suspect's confession, but his relationship with another suspect who has been secured," he said.

Based on the investigation, the suspect's husband ES has been detained with a similar case, related to sending illegal PMI and because her husband is in detention, ES is taking his place.