Police Arrest Three People Who Wanted To "Kidnap" Rohingya Immigrants From Shelters

Rohingya immigrants are detained at the police station/Photo: Antara

ACEH - Police officers arrested three residents who wanted to take Rohingya immigrants away from a shelter in Bireuen Regency.

The Head of Public Relations of the Aceh Police, Kombes Pol. Winardy, in Banda Aceh, Monday, said that the group of residents who wanted to flee the Rohingya immigrants were arrested on the road of Jangka Alue Village, Jangka Subdistrict, Bireuen Regency, Sunday, April 17.

However, until now the police are still investigating the motives of the perpetrators in taking the Rohingya immigrants away.

"The three perpetrators have the initials SR (35), FA (28), and BRH (30). All three are residents of Bireuen Regency. Their motive for fleeing Rohingya immigrants is still being investigated," he said, quoted by Antara.

He said the arrests stemmed from a report to security officers during the distribution of rice for suhoor from a Rohingya immigrant that three of his colleagues had fled from the shelter.

Then, he said, security officers for Rohingya immigrants together with the Term Police followed up on the report by investigating the direction of the escape at two points around the refugee camp.

From the results of the initial investigation, he said, officers found two Toyota Avanza minibuses about 300 meters from the shelter in which there were four Rohingya immigrants along with three perpetrators.

"The four Rohingya immigrants in the car were Mhd Ismail (19), Mhd Rizwan (12), Nurlami (18), and Suhel (19)," he said.

Seeing this, he explained, the officers immediately intercepted and arrested them. However, the perpetrators panicked so they tried to run away and almost hit the officers.

"They tried to escape, but because of the alertness of the officers, the three perpetrators and four Rohingya immigrants were arrested. One of them is suspected to be an agent in the Rohingya ethnic camp," he said.

Based on preliminary investigations, he said, the perpetrators admitted that they were paid IDR 2 million per person to bring him to Langsa. Arriving at Langsa, another agent will continue the flight of the immigrants to Medan City, North Sumatra.

"Currently the perpetrators and immigrants who wanted to escape as well as evidence in the form of two cars, three mobile phones, and three wallets were secured to the Bireuen Police Headquarters," he said.