Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Task Force on Human Trafficking Crimes (TPPO) of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and its regional police units established by the Chief of Indonesian National Police (INP) Police General Listyo Sigit Prabowo remains resolute in combating perpetrators who employ diverse methods in conducting their operations.
As of June 22, 2023, the Task Force has handled a significant number of 494 Police Reports (LP), leading to the arrest of 580 suspects. Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan, the Head of Public Affairs Bureau at the INP Public Relations Division, revealed in a written statement on Friday (23/6/23) that the most prevalent approach employed by these criminals is enticing victims with false promises of employment as Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) or Domestic Workers (PRT), resulting in 375 documented cases utilizing this modus operandi.
One notable instance, he said, was uncovered by the Riau Islands Regional Police, where the Batu Ampar Sector Police and Barelang Sub-Regional City Police has rescued two underage victims who were intended to be sent as PMIs. According to the victims' testimonies, they were enticed with employment offers at a billiard place in Malaysia, promising them a salary of IDR 10 million for a duration of 10 days.
Additionally, another case came to light through the efforts of the Kualuh Hili Sector Police , Labuhanbatu Sub-Regional Police, and North Sumatra Regional Police. Law enforcement officers arrested a group of PMIs returning from Malaysia, who had failed to adhere to proper procedures. These workers had to traverse the sea and board a motorboat to return to Indonesia. Upon disembarking, they were left on a densely vegetated beach before being picked up by motorcycles.
He further revealed that the most prevalent method involves the exploitation of victims as Commercial Sex Workers (PSK) with a total of 132 cases have been reported utilizing this approach. It entails recruiting female victims, including underage individuals, as PSKs through telephone or online applications. One instance of such exploitation was discovered in Bengkulu.
In that modus operandi, the TPPO Task Force of the Bengkulu Regional Police has arrested an individual who was sexually exploiting a 14-year-old child. Additionally, the Kutai Timur Sub-Regional Police has uncovered a case where a man employed women using the "open BO" method within a night entertainment venue, charging exorbitant rates reaching millions of rupiah.
Police has also identified two other prevalent methods: employing victims as Ship Crew Members (ABK) in six cases and engaging in child exploitation in 32 cases.
"Out of the hundreds of cases handled by the TPPO Task Force of the Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police and its regional police units, a total of 1,671 victims have been rescued," he said.
Out of these thousands of victims, he detailed that there were 762 adult female victims and 96 underage female victims. There were 764 adult male victims and 49 underage male victims. Furthermore, he said that out of the hundreds of cases uncovered, currently, 92 cases are in the investigation stage. Additionally, 375 cases are in the prosecution stage with complete case files or "P21," with one case.
In his concluding statement, he conveyed a message from the Chief of INP, urging the public not to be easily tempted by offers of high-paying jobs both domestically and internationally. The police chief has also requested the public to ensure whether the labor supply company is legitimate to ensure the protection of their social, welfare, and legal rights.
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