Riau Islands Police Failed To Send Illegal PMI Candidates Using Fast Ships To Malaysia

The Riau Islands Regional Police after thwarting the delivery of illegal PMIs in Batam waters, Riau Islands, Wednesday (5/7/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Humas Polda Kepri)

The Directorate of Water and Air Police (Ditpolairud) of the Riau Islands Police (Kepri) thwarted an attempt to send two prospective non-procedural or illegal Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) by using a fast boat to Malaysia. The Daily Executive (Plh) of the Head of Sub-Directorate of Gakkum Ditpolairud of the Riau Islands Police AKBP Yudi Sukmayadi explained that in the action that took place on Wednesday, his party also arrested two suspects and arrested two PMI candidates. "Two suspects with the initials S as the tekong of a fast boat and SY as the crew of the ship (ABK). We also rescued two non-procedural PMIs who were about to be dispatched to Malaysia," said Yudi when contacted in Batam, Riau Islands, Antara, Friday, July 7th. The attempt to reveal the delivery of the illegal PMI candidate stems from information received by the police that there will be unofficial PMI shipments to Malaysia. From this information, the officers then carried out an investigation and monitoring around the waters of Putri Island, Batam City, on Wednesday afternoon (5/7). Furthermore, at 18.30 WIB, a fast boat with a 40 PK engine was seen passing through the waters of Putri Nongsa Island, Batam City. Seeing this, the officers immediately gave chase and managed to catch the fast boat. "From the results of the inspection at the location, it was found that Initial S as the founder of the fast boat and Initials SY as the crew and two other men were non-procedural Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) who would be dispatched to Malaysia," Yudi explained. Currently, the two suspects have been taken to the Riau Islands Police Ditpolrairud for further investigation; while the two victims will be handed over to the Riau Islands BP3MI after an examination is carried out.

For his actions, said Yudi, the suspect was charged with Article 81 in conjunction with Article 83 of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers with a maximum imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum of IDR 15,000,000,000.