14 Indonesian Citizens Detained In Foreign Hospitals Fooled By Job Offers It Turns Out That The Kidney Selling Contract

JAKARTA - The Trafficking in Persons (TPPO) Task Force is investigating a case of human organ trafficking whose crime mode is carried out by offering jobs abroad for prospective Indonesian migrant workers (PMI).

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said he received information from the National Police that 14 Indonesian citizens were victims of organ trafficking after they were deceived by false job offers abroad.

"I still got information from the National Police, there are still 14 people in a country who are still stuck in the hospital with the sale of the kidneys. When I departed from here I said I wanted to work in a restaurant, where was it. There, (the victim signed) a kidney sale contract, "said Mahfud MD as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 4.

Mahfud MD said the victims of human organ trafficking did not receive good treatment when their organs were taken for sale by syndicates.

"Try to send people abroad now, sell their kidneys, accommodate them in various hospitals, and (victims) do not receive adequate treatment," said Mahfud MD.

Meanwhile, Deputy Head of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency (Wakabareskrim), Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri, who was involved in the TIP Task Force, said that the National Police was still investigating the case of organ trafficking with the mode of offering work abroad.

"We are developing networks throughout Indonesia. We are also collaborating with law enforcement abroad, including the police in Malaysia, and later the Dittipidum (Directorate of General Crimes at Bareskrim Polri) will cooperate with the police in Myanmar regarding what was conveyed by the Coordinating Minister (Mahfud MD) earlier regarding the sale of organs. And we will amplify the TIP narrative so that the public understands," said Asep Edi Suheri.

In the period from June 5, 2023 to July 3, 2023, the TIP Task Force led by the National Police Chief Gen. Pol. Listyo Sigit Prabowo as the Chief Executive of the Daily managed to save 1,943 victims of trafficking in persons, and named 698 perpetrators as suspects.

Of the 1,943 victims who were rescued, 65.5 percent of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI), 26.5 percent of commercial sex workers (PSK), 6.6 percent of children were exploited to work, and 1.4 percent of crew members (ABK).

The TIP Task Force in the same period has issued 605 police reports related to criminal acts of trafficking in persons.

"So, if there are types of crimes, there are people who (here) are online scammers (frauds from the Internet) for gambling, prostitution, various kinds of things, then there are rough workers on ships, household workers in various places who are not paid but are not allowed to go home because they have contracts, there is also torture in various countries, our migrant workers. Now it has begun to be handled," said Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud.