65 Illegal PMIs To Go To Singapore Successfully Foiled In Batam

Illustration of human trafficking (ANTARA)

65 Illegal PMIs To Go To Singapore Successfully Foiled In Batam

The Riau Islands Police's Trafficking Crime Handling Task Force (TIP) managed to save 65 non-procedural or illegal Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) in 10 days, from 5-15 June 2023.

"In the period from June 5-15, 2023, the Riau Islands Police TIP Task Force succeeded in uncovering 14 cases of attempted non-procedural PMI candidates and rescuing 65 victims who would be dispatched abroad for Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia," said the Directorate of Criminal Investigation of the Riau Islands Police, Kombes Pol Adip Rojikan, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, June 15.

He explained that the 65 victims of the non-procedural PMI candidates consisted of 45 men and 20 women. In addition, his party also arrested 22 suspects in the case.

The victims, he said, came from several areas, namely Java, Palembang, Bengkulu, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Lampung, Aceh, Medan and Batam.

"The suspects recruited victims from their area of origin by offering large salary jobs abroad free of charge, as well as preparing travel tickets, providing shelter facilities, and dispatching prospective workers through official and unofficial ports," he said.

For the official port route, the victims who were secured, Adip said that they already had a passport, but were not equipped with the requirements according to Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, namely at least 18 years old, having competence, physical health, registered and having social security participation numbers, and having complete documents.

For the required documents, namely, marriage status certificates, husband/wife license certificates, work competency certificates, health certificates, passports, work visas, worker placement agreements, and work agreements.

"Meanwhile, those who use the rat lane, usually PMI candidates are dispatched using a peccung ship," he said.

The 22 suspects have now been detained and subject to Article 81 in conjunction with 83 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers as amended in Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 6 of 2023 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulations in Lieu of Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into Law.