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Block BeeTalk, WeChat accounts allegedly linked to sex workers: Police
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Police officers display pieces of evidence they obtained in an investigation of online prostitution networks in Jakarta recently. (Tempo/-)
T
he police have demanded that the government block messenger app accounts allegedly facilitating prostitution at Margoda Residence Apartment in Pondok Cina, Depok.
Depok Police criminal investigation unit head Comr. Bintoro said an online prostitution ring was organized by three alleged pimps through BeeTalk and WeChat accounts.
They were arrested on Thursday at the apartment compound’s Tower 2 along with two others, who were allegedly a sex worker and a customer.
The alleged pimps, identified only as TM, R and IS, are suspected to have used messaging app BeeTalk to arrange meetings between sex workers and customers.
“We need the Communications and Information Ministry to detect and block the sex workers’ accounts on WeChat and BeeTalk so they will not use the apps for online prostitution,” Bintoro said on Monday as reported by kompas.com.
Read also: Rampant prostitution plagues Kalibata City
He said the police, the Depok administration and the stakeholders should cooperate to prevent online prostitution.
“This online prostitution [issue] is complex, so a lot of people have to cooperate with the police, such as the city administration and the residents, to stop this practice,” he said.
He added that there should be a regulation that would criminalize sex workers.
“I expect that the police will cooperate with the Depok administration, prosecutors and judges in Depok to review the punishment for online prostitution so they [sex workers] will not do it again,” Bintoro said. (ami)
