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Police foil attempt to traffic 16 people to Malaysia
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Police show a number of items as evidence and MW, as a suspect in human trafficking, (in orange) to journalists in the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak on Aug. 16.
(JP/Severianus Endi)
T
he West Kalimantan Police have foiled an alleged attempt to traffic 16 people – 14 men and two women – from East Nusa Tenggara to Sarawak, Malaysia.
West Kalimantan Police general crime director Sr. Corm. Asep Safrudin said in Pontianak on Wednesday that the police had arrested a suspect, identified only as MW, who was accused of illegally recruiting 16 people to be employed at a plantation in Malaysia.
The 16 people have been sent to their hometown, he said.
Read also: Police secure 5 suspected human trafficking victims from China“There are many ways to smuggle people to Malaysia from West Kalimantan. People can go by bus or pass through many alternatives routes along the border area,” said Asep, adding that MW was charged under Law No. 39/2004 on the recruitment and protection of Indonesian workers, with a maximum punishment of 15 years' imprisonment.
The police presented evidence in the form of handphones, passports and other documents and announced MW as a suspect during a press conference on Wednesday.
Asep said that, previously, the police received information about the arrival of the 16 people at Supadio Airport in Pontianak on Aug. 8 before arresting MW on the Trans Kalimantan road in Kubu Raya regency. MW was allegedly on the way to pick up the people from the airport.
MW allegedly charged the victims between Rp 3.7 million (US$276.59) and Rp 5 million for transportation fees and passport arrangements.
The police have seized nine passports. MW reportedly told the police that he had been recruiting illegal workers for about five years. (bbn)
