TNI AL Explores The Involvement Of Tekong Ships Carrying 30 Illegal PMIs

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Navy is still investigating the involvement of a ship carrying 30 illegal Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) bound for Malaysia that sank in the waters of Pulau Putri, Batam City, Riau Islands, Thursday, June 16 yesterday.

"Of the 23 survivors, we are still investigating whether there was a tekong who was on the ship and the extent of his role. We are still investigating all the victims, while from the initial investigation last night all of them were victims," said Commander of Lanal Batam, Marine Colonel (KH) Farid Ma'ruf in Batam, Riau Islands, Friday, June 17, quoted from Antara.

In addition, his party is also still investigating the alleged involvement of an illegal PMI distribution network from the Batam area to Malaysia who was previously arrested in January 2022.

"In January 2022 yesterday, we arrested an illegal PMI network in Batam. We are exploring again whether the perpetrators last night were included in this network or not," said Farid.

For now, he added, his party together with other rescue teams are looking for information on the seven other victims who are still in the search process.

"Currently, we do not know the identities of the other 7 victims. We are still investigating their identities," he said.

He said that currently his party received information from several fishermen that there were survivors who asked for help from fishermen to be transported to other areas.

"We received information that in addition to 23 people, there were victims who were rescued by fishermen, but they asked to be taken to other areas to avoid being monitored by officers who helped with the search effort," he said.