JAKARTA - The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Kuching has succeeded in rescuing two Indonesian citizens who are suspected of being victims of the Trafficking in Persons (TPPO) crime.
The two Indonesian citizens are named Epa (18) from Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan and Sonaji (42 years old) from Tangerang Regency, Banten.
The Coordinator of the Social and Cultural Affairs Function at the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching, Edelin, said that Epa admitted that he had been deceived by a man named YS who promised to marry him and claimed to have a lot of savings in the bank.
Epa was then invited by the suspected perpetrators of the crime to take a trip to a tourist attraction in the Temajuk area, Sambas, on November 21, 2021.
"The person concerned followed the perpetrator's invitation. However, it turned out that he was not taken for a trip to the Temajuk tourist attraction as previously promised, but was taken to the Jagoi Babang area, Bengkayang, on the border with Serikin, Sarawak," he said as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, March 2.
Epa was then taken by the suspect to the agency in Kuching. Then he was taken to Bintulu to work in a wood factory in Bintulu, Sarawak.
"On January 26, 2022, the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching picked up Epa at an inn in the Serian area and his condition was good. Next, he was taken to the Indonesian Consulate General's shelter in Kuching and processed for his return to Indonesia," he said.
Meanwhile, the victim of TTPO on behalf of Sonaji, in mid-December 2021 claimed to have received information about a job offer on Facebook from an agent named Diki Acil, who offered him a job in Sarawak, Malaysia.
"The agent promised to work as a driver with a total salary of around Rp. 15 million and all documents in the form of a passport and work permit will be made upon arrival in Sarawak, Malaysia. Sonaji is interested and willing to be sent by way of mice to Sarawak, Malaysia," said Edelin.
Upon arrival in Kuching, Sonaji was directed to the Pusa area, Sarawak and worked as a construction worker.
"After about a week of work, he admitted that he could not stand to work because it did not match the job promised by Sakim's agent in Indonesia and then moved to work as a waiter at a restaurant in the Bintulu area, Sarawak without bringing his passport documents," said Edlin.
After working non-procedurally for about a month, Sonaji is said to have run away because he was accused of taking the restaurant's belongings.
"On February 15, 2022, he arrived at the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching and reported the problems he was facing and asked for protection assistance and returned to Indonesia according to the procedure," he said.
The two victims have been returned to Indonesia accompanied by the Consul General at the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching Raden Sigit Witjaksono at the Tebedu - Entikong land border on Tuesday (1/3). Epa and Sonaji were handed over to local officials.
"The Consulate General in Kuching will continue to provide litigation/legal assistance and protection to Indonesian citizens, however, Indonesian citizens are still advised not to be easily tempted by agents or labor brokers through social media," he said.
Indonesian citizens who want to work in Sarawak, said Edelin, are encouraged to contact official government agencies, including the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) or the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching, to get clear information.
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