Police Name Housewife as Suspect of Sending Indonesian Migrant Workers to Malaysia Via Harbor Bay Batam

WD when escorted to the KKP Police detention center, Tuesday (7/2). (ANTARA/Yude)

BATAM - Barelang Police have named a housewife with the initials WD as a suspect in sending prospective Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) illegally through Harbor Bay International Port, Batam City, Riau Archipelago.

"We arrested WD, a housewife in the Harbor Bay International Port area on Saturday, February 4, because she was found to be sending three PMI candidates unofficially to Malaysia", said the Head of the Barelang Police Port Area Police, Iptu Putra Jaya Tarigan in Batam was launched by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 7.

It was revealed that this case began with the police's suspicion of the suspect, who at that time was taking care of the departure of one of the victims in the port area.

After being arrested and interrogated, the suspect confessed to her actions and from her statement, she stated that she was taking care of the unofficial departure of PMI candidates, judging by the documents he was carrying.

"After we traced it, it turned out that in this WD car, there was one victim. Then we developed it again and found another person in the suspect's house. The victims came from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB)", he said.

After being taken to the police station, he admitted that he had committed the act of sending the PMI candidate twice.

In this case, WD acted as a person who accommodated, delivered to the port and helped arrange documents for the victim's departure to Malaysia and earned a profit of IDR 7-9 million per person.

Currently, the police are still trying to find the person who recruited the PMI candidate who is known to be in Malaysia.

"We already know her identity and have entered the wanted list", he said.

For his actions, the suspect was subject to Article 81 in conjunction with Article 83 of Law Number 18 of 2017 Concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers. With a maximum threat of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of IDR 15 billion.