Jakarta – The Directorate of General Crimes (Dittipidum) Bareskrim Polri uncovered the criminal activity of human trafficking (TPPO) in Malaysia by offering Indonesian citizens (WNI) to work as construction workers.
This case first came to light after the TIP victim made a complaint to the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in early April 2023. From there, the Indonesian Embassy then coordinated with the Dittipidum Bareskrim Polri because it indicated there were allegations of human trafficking practices.
Director of General Crimes (Dirtipidum) Bareskrim Polri, Brigjen Pol
Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, said that the TPPO victim who made the complaint was an Indonesian citizen with the initials FBK. In his report, the victim admitted that he was invited to work with the promise of a salary of 1,000 Malaysian ringgit per month by two Indonesian suspects with the initials IJ and MR.
“The FBK victim was recruited by suspects IJ and MR who have worked in Malaysia since 1997 and were promised to work as construction workers with a salary of 1,000 ringgit per month,” explained Brigjen Pol Djuhandhani in a written statement, Saturday, (23/12).
The FBK victim was finally tempted and accepted the job offer. FBK left for Malaysia with three other Indonesian citizens with the initials EPL, MAS and WA in March 2023.
“Then in March 2023, the FBK victim along with the EPL, MAS and WA victims left for Malaysia and met the suspect MR in Malaysia. Then they were transferred to work with their employer,” said Brigjen Pol Djuhandhani.
However, after the victim worked for a month, the wages he received did not match the initial agreement. FBK only received a salary of 250 Malaysian ringgit. And finally it was discovered that his wages had apparently been circumcised by the suspect MR, amounting to 750 Malaysian ringgit.
“The salary received by the victim was cut by 750 ringgit by the suspect MR. Then on April 6 2023, the victim complained to the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur regarding the incident experienced by the victim,” explained Brigjen Pol Djuhandhani.
“The Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur then coordinated with Dittipidum Bareskrim investigators, and on April 11 2023 the victims were returned to Indonesia, and immediately received by Bareskrim investigators together with Polda Jawa Tengah investigators,” he continued.
The joint team from Bareskrim Polri and Polda Jawa Tengah was finally able to arrest suspects IJ and MR, three days after the victims returned from Malaysia. However, three days after the two suspects were detained, the victims asked for the case to be stopped on the grounds that they had reconciled with the two suspects.
“On April 17 2023, the FBK victim submitted a letter requesting the withdrawal of the police report on the grounds that there had been peace between the victim and the suspect, and the suspect’s family submitted a letter requesting restorative justice to the Polda Jawa Tengah investigators,” said Brigjen Pol Djuhandhani.
Even so, he said again, TPPO cases are not criminal acts that can be resolved with restorative justice. The reason is that TPPO is a transnational crime and a crime against humanity. The handling of the case which was originally carried out by the Polda Jawa Tengah was finally handed over to the Bareskrim Polri.
“On May 9 2023, a case was held by the Dittipidum Bareskrim Polri and Polda Jateng. Then the handling of the case was handed over to investigators from the Dittipidum Bareskrim Polri,” explained Brigjen Pol Djuhandhani.
He also said, that currently the case process is still in the investigation stage. Investigators will still summon victims and witnesses to strengthen the evidence.
Investigators are still trying to summon the victim and related witnesses to provide evidence, he said again.
Meanwhile, the suspects MR and IJ who were arrested were both charged with multiple crimes. They were charged under Article 4 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of the Crime of Human Trafficking and/or Article 81 in conjunction with Article 69 and/or Article 83 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia. Number 18 of 2017 concerning Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code. The threat is a maximum of 15 years in prison and a minimum of 3 years in prison.
The case files for the two suspects are currently still in the finalization stage and will soon be handed over to the Public Prosecutor at the Jawa Tengah High Prosecutor’s Office for further processing. Bembo
