Kupastuntas.co, Bandar Lampung - The Lampung Police have arrested 4 suspects in the case of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO) against 24 Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) residents, prospective illegal Indonesian migrant workers (PMI), Wednesday (7/6/2023).

The four suspects are DW (28) a resident of Bengkulu, I (25) a resident of Depok, AR (50) a resident of East Jakarta and AL (31) a resident of Depok.

Lampung Police Chief Inspector General Helmy Santika said the four suspects were acting as individuals and did not have an official migrant worker placement company.

"Based on the investigation, the victims were asked for a salary of around 5 to 7 million rupiah. In addition, the modus operandi of the victims was also facilitated by the suspects, starting from recruiting, making passports if they did not have them, to travel expenses," said Helmy Santika during a press conference at the Lampung Police Headquarters.

As for the roles of the suspects, namely DW was the mastermind behind (recruitment) as well as funding the PMI candidates, I played the role of picking up and accompanying the PMI candidates to move from place to place, AR and AL had the role of preparing the needs of the PMI candidates as well as recruiters for PMI candidates.

Regarding whether there were other victims and the involvement of elements in the TIP case, Helmy said that his party was still investigating the illegal PMI syndicate network.

"So these victims were promised to be employed as housewives in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia," he said.

The evidence that was successfully secured included 20 passports, a number of airplane tickets and cellphones.

"Currently we are still doing trauma healing for the victims and later we will return them to their respective homes," he added.

Helmy added that since 2020-2023, the Lampung Regional Police have rescued around 84 victims of illegal PMI (TPPO).

"With a total of 29 suspects who have been detained," he explained.

Now the four suspects are being charged with Article 2 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 10 of RI Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning TIP and/or Article 68 in conjunction with Article 83 or Article 69 in conjunction with Article 81 of RI Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers. "With a maximum threat of 15 years in prison," he concluded.

Previously, the Lampung Regional Police managed to save 24 victims of illegal Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) from the Crime of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO) in the Rajabasa Area, Bandar Lampung on Monday (5/6/2023).

The victims came from several areas in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) who were sent to the Middle East and were in transit or temporarily accommodated in the Province of Lampung. (*)