Jepara Police Reveals TIP Cases With Dozens Of Victims

Jepara Police Chief AKBP Wahyu Nugroho Setyawan/ANTARA HO

JEPARA - Jepara Police, Central Java, revealed a criminal case of trafficking in persons (TPPO) with the mode of sending migrant workers illegally abroad by arresting two suspects along with a number of evidences.

"The two suspects, namely the initials AJS (40) who are residents of Keling District, Jepara Regency and K (49) residents of Cluwak District, Pati Regency," said Jepara Police Chief AKBP Wahyu Nugroho Setyawan as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 13.

Meanwhile, the evidence that was secured from the suspect AJS included receipts, whiteboards containing a list of crew names that were going to Korea, cellphones and records of the Indonesian workforce list (TKI). Meanwhile, from suspect K, there are family cards, school diplomas, cellphones, and passports.

In carrying out the action, the suspect AJS managed to trick 18 people. While the modus operandi is to promise to dispatch Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) by air, sea, and land abroad without having to have P3MI (Indonesian Migrant Workers Placement Company).

Meanwhile, suspect K managed to trick one person who was a victim of TIP.

"The mode is almost the same, offering job vacancies abroad. Then the suspect asked for a sum of funds, such as the suspect AJS asking for money worth Rp. 30 million in stages. For example, it was paid Rp. 2.5 million first, then Rp. 3 million was paid and added with reasons for other purposes," he said.

In total, of the 19 victims, he said, the value of the loss reached more than Rp. 200 million.

For their actions, the two suspects were charged with Article 81 Jo Article 69 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 18/2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PPMI) and Article 378 of the Criminal Code with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of IDR 15 billion.

To avoid similar cases from happening again, he reminded the public to be careful and more selective in accepting offers to work abroad.

The Head of the Manpower and Transmigration Office of the Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises, Manpower and Transmigration of Jepara R. Eko Sulistiyono expressed his appreciation for the Jepara Police who succeeded in uncovering a network of criminal acts of trafficking in persons.

"People should not be easily tempted by the lure of working abroad with a large salary without going through the official channels set by the government. Moreover, in Jepara Regency there is no Indonesian migrant worker placement company (P3MI)," he said.