5 Pimps In Gorontalo Arrested In Charge Of Trafficking In Persons

GORONTALO - The Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) of the Gorontalo Police arrested five young men suspected of being perpetrators of trafficking people (victims). "The five are suspected of being involved in criminal acts of trafficking of people (TPPO) who were successfully arrested in the Gorontalo City area. After last Sunday, we received information that there was a TPPO perpetrator at one of the inns in Gorontalo City," said Head of PPA Gorontalo Police, AKP Yunike Bakrie, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday 22 June. He explained, after the location was visited, it turned out that there were indeed several suspected pimps along with the victims found. "They were immediately arrested and taken to the Mapolda," Yunike Bakrie said. His party then sorted out everyone who was the perpetrator or victim, then an examination was carried out. "The result is that five people are suspected of being pimps. They are all adults and the victims are five people. Each perpetrator has one victim. Of the five victims, only one is 19 years old. The other four are still under age," he said. Based on the results of the interrogation, the alleged perpetrators have been sexually exploiting victims at varying prices, ranging from Rp. 300 thousand to Rp. 400 thousand in each date. "The four victims were residents of Gorontalo. One resident of North Bolaang Mongondow. The perpetrators set prices varied for each time the victim dated with their guest. And in one date, the perpetrators received wages or services worth Rp. 50,000," Yunike said.

He added, if found guilty, the perpetrators (victims) are threatened with being charged with Articles 2, paragraphs 1 and 2, Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Crime of Trafficking in Persons, with a minimum prison sentence of 5 years, and a maximum of 15 years, as well as a minimum fine of Rp120 million and a maximum of Rp600 million. Gorontalo Police Public Relations Head, AKBP Desmont Harjendro appealed to the public, to be able to inform the nearest Police officers if they know, see, or find things that could disrupt the security and social security situation in their respective neighborhoods.