First Send 42 Illegal PMI Candidates, Immediately Arrested By Police In Batam

BATAM- The Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) of the Riau Islands Police (Kepri) managed to thwart the plan to send 42 prospective Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) illegally in Batam who were about to depart for Malaysia.

“This incident was revealed when police officers received information that there was a shelter for illegal PMI candidates in the Jodoh area who would be illegally dispatched to Malaysia. After being traced to the location, officers managed to find 42 illegal PMI candidates in shophouses in the matchmaking area," said Head of Public Relations of the Riau Islands Police Commissioner Harry Goldenhardt in Batam, Riau Islands, Saturday, July 2.

Harry explained that of the 42 illegal PMI candidates, 24 were male and 18 were female.

"From our data collection, on average these illegal PMI candidates come from West Java, Central Java, East Java, Lampung, Lombok and Madura," said Harry.

In addition to illegal PMI candidates, the police also arrested a man suspected of serving as an administrator, namely M alias Y who came from Central Java.

"At the scene of the incident, we also managed to secure some evidence such as cellphones, passports, and travel tickets from the areas of origin of each illegal PMI," said Harry.

The Director of General Criminal Investigation (Dirreskrimum) of the Riau Islands Police, Kombes Jefri Siagian, added that the fees charged to PMI candidates varied.

"The costs vary, some are Rp. 7 million, some are Rp. 10 million, some are even more than Rp. 10 million, depending on their area of origin," he said.

One of the alleged perpetrators, namely M alias Y, Jefri said that this was the first time he had done this.

"This is the first time he has sent this PMI candidate abroad, he gets a salary of Rp. 2,500,000 from one PMI candidate," he said.