IRT Tasikmalaya Defendant TPPO 16 Months In Prison Sentenced To 16 Months In Denpasar District Court

Nike Nurul Hikmah (41), a defendant in a criminal case of trafficking in persons (TPPO) underwent a verdict trial at the Denpasar District Court, Bali, Tuesday (29/7/2025). ANTARA/HO-Ist/RN

The panel of judges at the Denpasar District Court, Bali, sentenced Nike Nurul Hikmah (41), a defendant in a criminal case of trafficking in persons (TPPO).

"The trial, sentenced the defendant Nike Nurul Hikmah to one year and four months in prison," said Chief Justice Eni Martiningrum at the hearing to read the verdict at the Denpasar District Court, Tuesday, July 29.

The Panel of Judges stated that the housewife from Tasikmalaya, West Java, was found guilty of illegally sending five women from Indonesia to Dubai to work as assistants.

The defendant Nike Nurul Hikmah was declared to have violated Article 83 in conjunction with Article 68 of Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code as in the third alternative indictment.

As reported by ANTARA, this decision was lighter than the demands of the Public Prosecutor (JPU) Pradewa Ariakhbar who demanded that the defendant be sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of Rp. 1 billion, subsidiary to three months in prison.

Regarding the decision, the Public Prosecutor stated that he was still thinking about filing an appeal.

The prosecutor's indictment explains that this case began when Nike became acquainted with Rika in Dubai, which was later introduced to Zaki, a man who is now a DPO. Zaki then asked Nike to find someone to go to Dubai as a maid.

Nike, who agreed to Zaki's request, received Rp. 13 million and an additional Rp. 1 million from Zaki to arrange the departure of the victims, including Nenden Famayanti, Sania Nurlela, Wiwin Wintarsih, and Tuti Sukasti.

Even the defendant also received the victim's ID card to take care of his departure.

The victims before leaving for Dubai, first came to Bali and were kept at Sutting Hostel, Kuta, Badung. The plan is for the victims to be dispatched to Singapore on February 6, 2025, then continue their journey to Dubai.

However, the plan failed after Immigration officers suspected their travel documents and movements when they were about to depart from the departure terminal of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport until they finally underwent an officer's examination.

After being traced, they are strongly suspected of being victims of TIP. The police then arrested Nike Nurul Hikmah.