PMI Smuggling Suspect In Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan Threatened With 10 Years In Prison

Indonesian Migrant Workers/ANTARA/Teofilusianto Timothy (Teofilusianto Timothy)

KAPUAS HULU - Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Kapuas Hulu Police, West Kalimantan, Iptu Indrawan, said his party had named one suspect in the non-procedural Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) smuggling case. The perpetrators face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of IDR 5 billion.

"The suspect with the initials NGR, a Badau resident who was involved in a non-procedural PMI smuggling case in the border area," said Iptu Indrawan, to ANTARA, in Putussibau, Kapuas Hulu, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 13.

From the results of the investigation, the suspect NGR played a role or facilitated providing services for the placement of 28 non-procedural PMIs who would be sent via illegal roads (rat lanes) in Sungai Antu Village, Puring Kencana District, which is directly adjacent to the State of Malaysia.

According to him, the suspect is also a signpost for the rats used to go to the Batu Lintang area of Sarawak, Malaysia.

In addition, from a number of testimonies from witnesses, the suspect also withdrew a fee of Rp. 500 thousand to the non-procedural PMIs.

"The suspect's attempt to smuggle the non-procedural PMIs was thwarted by the Pamtas Task Force on duty in the area, after we conducted an investigation it turned out that there was a criminal element and we remain NGR as a suspect," Indrawan explained.

Meanwhile, 28 non-procedural PMIs have been dispatched to Pontianak to be handed over to the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency in Pontianak, for further repatriation to their areas of origin.

"The PMI mostly come from South Sulawesi, some even bring small children," he said.

According to ANTARA's observations, at the departure location to be precise at PLBN Badau, Wednesday afternoon (13/7), it was seen that a number of non-procedural PMIs from South Sulawesi brought a number of children, ironically, some who were still toddlers, wanted to work in Malaysia via non-permanent routes. official.

One mother, who did not want to be named, admitted that she was forced to take her child to work overseas to Malaysia to try her luck, because of the difficulty of finding jobs in her area in South Sulawesi.

"Yes, I have to, sir, I brought my child, I want to leave it in the village, I'm still young," said a mother while holding her child.