Coordinating Minister For Political, Legal And Security Affairs: Victims Of Online Fraud In Myawaddy Myanmar Experience Physical And Psychological Torture

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polkam) Budi Gunawan (ANTARA/Azmi Samsul Maarif)

TANGERANG - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polkam) Budi Gunawan revealed that Indonesian citizens who were victims of exploitation of online fraud in Myawaddy, Myanmar experienced psychological torture or violence to physical.

"The victims have experienced various physical pressures, beatings, and even being threatened with taking their organs, passports taken, and prohibited from communicating. This is very strong hostage-taking in the international scam online mafia," said Budi Gunawan (BG) in Tangerang, Antara, Tuesday, March 18.

He explained that in the case of online fraud exploitation in Myawaddy, there were 554 Indonesian citizens consisting of 449 men and 105 women who had been successfully evacuated and rescued by the Indonesian government.

"Of the 554 Indonesian citizens, there are 449 men, 105 women. And they are victims of large-scale online fraud in the Myawaddy area, precisely on the border between Myanmar and Thailand," he said.

Budi revealed that victims who have received several acts of violence by perpetrators of criminal acts of trafficking in persons (TPPO) in Myanmar will receive treatment from the relevant ministries. Both physically and medical care.

"The victims will also receive logistical assistance, health services, before they are returned to their respective homes. We will also determine whether they are all victims, or if there are indications of the perpetrators," he said.

In this case, the government is committed to conducting investigations and examinations of victims by the National Police by following up on the disclosure of the perpetrators of online fraud.

"Legal efforts to the perpetrators, who are involved in this TIP network, will continue to be rushed and disclosed. Therefore, the results of this assessment show follow-up steps by the Police," he explained.

He explained that at the evacuation stage for 554 Indonesian citizens, they were repatriated from Myawaddy, Myanmar through the City of Maesot in Thailand, namely through the 2nd Friendship Bridge on the border between the two countries on Monday (17/3).

In this repatriation stage, it is divided into three waves that depart from Bangkok to Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The first and second waves were 400 people on Monday (18/03).

"Then, tomorrow's third stage is 154 people, who are victims in Myanmar," he said.

Arriving in Indonesia, hundreds of Indonesian citizens who are victims will be temporarily accommodated at Wisma Haji Pondok Gede, East Jakarta. This is to ensure that the victims receive health services.

"The victims will also receive logistical assistance, health services, before they are returned to their respective areas. We will also determine whether they are all victims, or if there are indications of the perpetrators," he said.