DENPASAR - The Denpasar District Court, Bali, has sentenced a former member of the Bali Police's Water and Air Police Directorate (Ditpolairud), I Putu Setiyawan (32), to three years in prison after being found guilty of human trafficking (TPPO).
The verdict was read in a trial led by Chief Justice Ni Kadek Kusuma Wardani at the Denpasar District Court, Thursday, June 25.
In addition to imprisonment, the defendant was also sentenced to a fine of Rp. 200 million and an obligation to pay restitution of Rp. 32 million in joint and several liability with four other defendants who were tried separately.
"Judging, declaring the defendant I Putu Setiyawan to be legally and convincingly proven guilty of the crime of human trafficking, therefore sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of Rp. 200 million," said the panel of judges as reported by ANTARA, Friday, June 26.
The other four defendants who have been sentenced in separate cases are the Director of PT Awindo International Bali Representative Iwan, the Captain of KM Awindo 2A Jaja Sucharja, the Director of CV Pelaut Bahari Sejahtera Refdiyanto, and an employee named Titin Sumartini. They were each sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of Rp. 200 million.
In its consideration, the panel of judges emphasized that the crime of human trafficking is an extraordinary crime.
The judge also highlighted the status of the defendant who, at the time of the incident, was still a member of the National Police and should have provided protection to the public, but instead abused his authority and position to commit a crime.
Therefore, the panel of judges stated that the defendant was proven to have violated the provisions as stated in the first indictment of the Public Prosecutor.
The sentence was one year lighter than the prosecutor's request, who had previously asked the defendant to be sentenced to four years in prison.
After the verdict was read, both the prosecutor and the defendant's legal advisor stated that they were still thinking about filing a legal action.
In his indictment, the prosecutor revealed that the defendant along with a number of other parties was involved in the recruitment and placement of prospective crew members (ABK) of the KM Awindo 2A owned by PT Awindo International in August 2025.
The victims were recruited through job advertisements that promised interesting jobs and income. However, they were then placed on squid catching boats with a working period of up to 10 months at sea and longer working hours than promised.
The victims were also allegedly subjected to restrictions on communication, the collection of identity documents, debt collection, and threats if they refused to work or tried to leave the placement process.
During the trial, it was revealed that the defendant played a role in the recruitment process of prospective ABK, the collection of victim identity documents, the distribution of operational funds for recruitment, as well as the distribution and signing of the Sea Labor Agreement (PKL) on board the ship.
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