Illegal TKI Shelter In Tulungagung Dismantled By Police, Using Foreign Language Course Guise

TULUNGAGUNG - Police officers from the Tulungagung Resort, East Java, arrested and detained an unscrupulous TKI recruiter or an illegal Indonesian private worker placement officer (PPTKIS). He is alleged to have deceived dozens of prospective migrant workers with an estimated loss of billions of rupiah.

"We arrested the MRT suspect (38) after there were complaints from a number of victims, along with sufficient initial evidence," said Head of the Special Unit for the Crime Investigation Unit of the Tulungagung Police Iptu Didik Riyanto in Tulungagung, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, September 7.

So far, MRT has carried out its fraudulent actions under the guise of opening a foreign language course in the Rejotangan District.

The victims, who were mostly participants in foreign language courses at the MRT, were given a job offer to Poland with a salary of tens of millions of rupiah.

He argued that access to work in this Eastern European country could only be done through a labor recruitment company owned/overshadowed by the MRT.

Each victim is charged a fantastic fee of up to IDR 50 million per person. "Losses reached billions of rupiah," he said.

In action since 2019, this 38-year-old woman carries out her actions alone.

There are currently 26 prospective migrant workers listed as victims of the MRT fraud. Some of them are from around Tulungagung, and some are from other regions/provinces.

Under the pretext of administrative costs, the prospective migrant workers were charged a number of fees, ranging from Rp. 25 million, Rp. 30 million to Rp. 50 million.

The victims were searched by MRT by means of promotions on social media and direct offers from their work offices. The police have so far examined 10 witnesses, including staff who work at the MRT office as well as a foreign language course in Rejotangan.

MRT is now charged with Article 81 Junto Article 69 of Law Number 18/2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers. "The maximum penalty is six years in prison," said Didik.

Didik advised the public to be careful in choosing PPTKIS. As much as possible before choosing PPTKIS, residents first consult with the nearest Manpower Office.