jpnn.com, TANGERANG - The police have arrested two suspects of human trafficking in Tangerang regency, Banten.
The two alleged perpetrators are a married couple, identified with the initials AM and UA, residents of Lampung.
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Tangerang Police chief Senior Commissioner Wahyu Sri Bintoro said at a press conference in Tangerang, Wednesday, that a total of 56 people were victims of their crimes.
As many as 50 of them have been dispatched abroad as illegal Indonesian workers.
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"The six victims who have not yet departed include three men and three women, identified with the initials LN, S, AS, NYW, I, and SN," Wahyu said.
The arrest began with a police report on November 17 regarding the existence of a shelter for illegal workers in Wanakerta village, Sindang Jaya district, Tangerang.
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From the report, the police immediately conducted an investigation.
"It turns out that they were lured to be employed in Middle East countries such as Turkey and Qatar," he said.
The couple, said the police chief, recruited their victims through Facebook to work abroad for a salary of Rp 12 million to Rp 16 million per month.
"Before leaving there, the victim was asked to pay Rp 20 million to Rp 30 million that they said to be used for a passport, plane ticket, vaccination letter, and visa," he said.
He revealed that to carry out their crime, the suspects coordinated with other agents abroad.
Investigators found that the suspects had been carrying out their actions for approximately one year.
"In one month, the suspects could send three to four people," Wahyu said.
The police secured evidence of one mobile phone, six passports, three electronic visas, two printed plane tickets, three Covid-19 vaccination letters, and two BRI passbooks.
The suspects are subject to Article 81 of Law Number 18/2017 concerning the protection of Indonesian workers, with a threat of 10 years in prison or a fine of Rp 15 billion, and/or Article 4 and Article 10 of Law Number 21/2007 concerning human trafficking, with a penalty of 3 to 15 years in prison and a fine of Rp 100 million to Rp 600 million. (antara/mcr20/jpnn)
This news has been broadcast on JPNN.com with the title: 2 Pelaku Perdagangan Orang di Tangerang Ternyata Pasangan Suami Istri, Alamak