11 Indonesian Citizens From Lampung Abandoned In Istanbul Turkey, BP2MI Asks The Regional Police To Step In To Investigate The Service Bureau

LAMPUNG - The Lampung Police are currently investigating the case of 11 Indonesian citizens (WNI) from Lampung who were abandoned in Istanbul, Turkey.

To date, the 11 Indonesian citizens have been confirmed by the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) in good health.

"We will carry out an investigation into this case because the state will be here to protect its citizens as Indonesian migrant workers abroad," said Head of Public Relations of the Lampung Police Kombes Zahwani Pandra Arsyad in Bandarlampung, Antara, Wednesday, April 20.

The investigation process is inseparable from legal protection based on Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers.

"Thanks to the coordination of BP2MI, including the Manpower Service, they are already under the protection of the Indonesian Consulate General in Istanbul, Turkey. We hope that the 11 Indonesian citizens will return safely to Indonesia and be reunited with their families," he said.

If you find any discrepancies in sending Lampung people abroad, he said, they should immediately report to the police, BP2MI, and the local Manpower Office.

"This information can at least minimize people who will go abroad illegally," he said.

Head of UPT BP2MI Lampung Ahmad Salabi added that his party immediately sought the return of the 11 Indonesian citizens. So far, his party has coordinated and the 11 Indonesian citizens are in good health.

"Four people are planned to return to Indonesia next Sunday. Others will follow," he said.

He hopes that the police, especially the Lampung Regional Police, will follow up on the case and investigate sponsors or service bureaus that illegally dispatch migrant workers.

"In the future, we hope that there will be no more incidents like this. If you want to work abroad, you are expected to coordinate, especially with the Regency/City Manpower Office so that you can find out which country accepts the job," he said.

Previously, as many as 11 Indonesian citizens from Lampung who were in Turkey asked the government to return them to their country.

A total of 11 Indonesian citizens from Lampung consist of nine residents of East Lampung, one resident of Way Kanan, and one resident of West Tulangbawang.

They can be in Turkey for the purpose of working in Poland. Through the sponsor who brought them, they first transited in Turkey in order to arrange work documents to Poland. However, due to a number of document requirements from the Polish state that could not be completed, they remained in Turkey.