The Practice Of TIP Crossing Riau Forests Towards Malaysia Is Revealed, 12 Victims Are Secured

A total of 12 prospective Malaysian migrant workers were arrested by the police in Dumai forest. (ANTARA/HO-Riau Police)

PekanBARU - Riau Police thwarted the alleged crime of trafficking in persons (TPPO) to Malaysia. A total of 12 victims were arrested while crossing the forest in the Medang Kampai area, Dumai.

The Head of Public Relations of the Riau Police, Kombes Pol. Nandang Mu'min Wijaya, said the victims were secured with a suspect before using a speed boat via an illegal route to Malaysia.

"The perpetrator of a man with the initials RA (29) was arrested along with dozens of migrant workers in a forest on Thursday (June 15)," he said in a written statement in Pekanbaru, Riau, Monday, June 19, which was confiscated by Antara.

He said this case was revealed based on public reports. This TIP practice is thought to be from the Herman Aceh network, which is currently being searched by the police.

"The migrant workers were initially picked up by car at the Lakap Seven Terminal and delivered by RA to the forest in Medang Kampai District," he said.

Among the 12 prospective migrant workers who will be dispatched to Malaysia, one of them is a Rohingya resident, Myanmar. In addition, there are two 2.5-year-old children.

Currently, the perpetrators and evidence have been secured at the Riau Police Headquarters to undergo further legal proceedings.

"While the suspect Herman Aceh is still being chased by the Riau Police Ditreskrimum, Bengkalis Police and Dumai Police," said Nandang.

The perpetrators were charged with Article 2 paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 10 of Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of TIP, and Article 81 in conjunction with Article 83 of Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, with a penalty of more than two years in prison.