Samarinda Police: Online Prostitution Is Increasingly Rampant, Perpetrators And Victims Diverse From 17-30 Years Old

Samarinda City Police Chief AKP Creato Sonitehe Gulo when releasing an online prostitution case in front of the media crew. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Samarinda City Police, East Kalimantan, has succeeded in uncovering cases of online or online prostitution in the local city.

"Online-based prostitution is increasingly rampant, the perpetrators and victims range from 17-30 years old, the basis is again due to economic factors", said Samarinda City Police Chief, AKP Creato Sonitehe Gulo, in Samarinda, reported by Antara, Tuesday, November 16.

He said at least 15 people consisting of eight men and seven women were caught in the Community Disease Operation (Pekat) which was carried out by the cyber patrol team of the Samarinda City Police on Saturday night, November 13 in the jurisdiction of Samarinda City.

It's not even been a week since we arrested the lust business gangs in the Samarinda City area, now the illegal business actors have been captured again.

"We have secured the perpetrators from two different hotel locations in Samarinda and they have different roles", said the police chief.

He continued to say, of the 15 people who were caught they had their respective roles ranging from guards (situation observers), account controllers to sex workers.

The prices offered to customers also vary for one date, starting from the price range of IDR 300 thousand to IDR 800 thousand.

From the results of an in-depth investigation, two men are suspected of acting as pimps/pimps who peddle their women through the Michat application, namely the initials MW who are 25 years old and MA is 18 years old.

"As for the income of pimps, when we carry out investigations they vary, if the prostitute is valued at IDR 300,000, and if it is IDR 500,000, the pimp will get IDR 150,000", said the police chief.

The 2008 Akpol alumni continued to say, apart from the two roles of pimps, the police also arrested six other men who were serving as guards.

Sadly, the guards of the situation are none other than a husband from a serial marriage to the girlfriend of the prostitute.

It is known, these guards will later sleep in a hotel room with pimps and women who are prostitutes online.

"The role of this guard is only to take care of his girlfriend and wife. So if there are guests who come they will leave the room", said the police chief.

In the disclosure of this case, the police also secured several pieces of evidence, such as eight units of mobile phones of various brands, 15 contraceptives, 45 starter packs, 10 pieces of 50 thousand rupiah notes, five 100 thousand rupiah bills, and a black bag.

The police chief emphasized that they (the prostitutes) do not stay in one place and will move around from changing hotels to moving cities.

From the results of the interim examination, two pimps were named suspects for violating Law No. 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of TTPO (Criminal act of people-trafficking), while for the others, they were coordinated with the social service for guidance.

"In addition to the pimps we have named as suspects, the others have been handed over to the Social Service for guidance", said the first officer of the National Police.