Riau Islands Police Reveals Trafficking In Persons Allegedly Involves Journalists

The Riau Islands Regional Police said that trafficking in persons involved journalists (ANTARA/HO-Polda Kepri)

The Riau Islands Police revealed a case of trafficking in persons suspected of involving two journalists with the initials NR and MSR.

The Head of Public Relations of the Riau Islands Police, Kombes Zahwani Pandra Arsyad, said that the evidence that was secured from the two perpetrators included five passports, five MV Ship tickets. Puteri Anggraeni 05, five Harborbay Batam "boarding passes" - Puteri Harbor and two cellphones.

"For their actions, the two suspects were subject to Article 81 in conjunction with Article 83 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers who underwent changes based on Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 6 of 2023 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into Law with a maximum imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of Rp. 15 billion," said Kombes Zahwani in a statement reported by ANTARA, Friday, August 18.

He explained that the chronology of the incident began on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, when members of Sub-Directorate 4 of the Ditreskrimum of the Riau Islands Police received information about three men suspected of being prospective illegal migrant workers who would leave for Malaysia via Harbourgbay International Port, but their efforts were rejected by Immigration.

"Furthermore, on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at around 09.30 WIB, members of Sub-Directorate 4 from the Ditreskrimum of the Riau Islands Police conducted interrogations and investigations," he said.

In this operation, two men were arrested who were suspected of having a role as administrators in the incident.

"Then the suspects and the victims were taken to the Office of Sub-Directorate 4 of the Riau Islands Police for further investigation, investigation, and found by the suspects admitted that this is the first time they have committed a criminal act of trafficking in persons (TPPO)," he said.

He said the modus operandi of the suspects was by luring decent salaries and lives abroad which the suspects later gave the victims an inappropriate job and did not match what they promised before.

"The 3 victims who were rescued by the Riau Islands Police included the initials BN (29) from Tasikmalaya (West Java), O (40) from Subang (West Java), and A (28) from Subang (West Java) where the suspects made a profit of Rp. 2 million per person," said Kombes Zahwani.