Arya News - The recruiter promised the workers they would get 110 ringgit (US$26.85) per day for renovating two houses but the wages have never been paid.
JAKARTA – Police in Meranti Islands, Riau, have arrested a recruiter of illegal migrant workers after one of his victims filed a police report following the latter’s repatriation from Malaysia, the worker also claimed his wages had not been paid.
The report was filed by Surya Hafandi, a resident of Bokor village in Meranti Islands regency, on Dec. 5.
“He was a victim in a suspected human trafficking case, who was promised a well-paying job in Malaysia,” Meranti Islands Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Aldi Alfa Faroqi said on Thursday.
He said that given its proximity to Malaysia the region is often used as the exit and entry point for illegal migrant workers. Meranti Islands Police pay serious attention to human trafficking cases, he added.
“As soon we received the report, detectives conducted an investigation by tracing the perpetrator, asking witnesses and collecting evidence,” he said.
“The recruiter has been identified as Roma Rianto and has been named a suspect. He is also a resident of Meranti Islands regency, from Selatpanjang subdistrict, Tebing Tinggi district.”
Meranti Islands Police detectives chief Adj. Comr. Roemin Putra said Roma called Surya in Selatpanjang on Oct. 16, offering him a job renovating two houses with a wage of 110 ringgit [US$26.85] per day.
Surya was not suspicious of the offer and departed for Malaysia on Oct. 20 through Tanjung Harapan Port in Selatpanjang and met four other workers who were recruited separately by Roma: Sapandi and Fadli from Bokor village, Awaludin from Mekong village and Riyansah from Kayu Ara village.
“They did not know each other but had the same goal, to work in Malaysia after being recruited by Roma,” Roemin said.
In Malaysia, they worked renovating houses owned by Ncik Antik and were sheltered in a hut next to one of the renovated houses. They started work on the following day.
The workers, however, were only given meals but not their daily wages. When they asked about their unpaid wages, the owner said that their wages had been paid as a lump sum to Roma. The workers then asked Roma, who denied any responsibility.
Having no other option, they continued working until Oct. 29 when Surya, Awaludin and Riyansah decided to escape, despite having little knowledge of the area and no money at all.
They contacted the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, which responded immediately and gave them money to reach the nearest Indonesian diplomatic mission.
They were then identified and rehabilitated at the embassy for two weeks before being repatriated though Kukup International Port in Johor state.
On Nov. 18, the trio came to Roma’s parents-in-law’s house in Selatpanjang, asking for assistance to get their unpaid wages but they remained unpaid for a subsequent two weeks.
The victims then contacted the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Service Center (BP3MI) for mediation, which also failed, whereupon police began investigating the case.
Roemin said detectives were studying the case to reveal the involvement of other parties who recruited or arranged migrant workers’ departures, as has been the case in the past.
Detectives found and confiscated two notebooks containing people who Roma had previously sent to Malaysia. Also confiscated were four passports and one cell phone.
Meanwhile, Riau BP3MI head, Fanny Wahyu Kurniawan said his office first received a phone call from Awaludin on Dec. 1. He said total wages of Rp 22 million (US$1,320) for 10 days for the three victims and 25 days for an unidentified victim remained unpaid.
“We then tried persuasive dialogue with Roma on Dec. 3 and 4 to achieve a restorative justice solution. Mediation was held on Dec. 5 at Meranti Islands Police headquarters,” he said.
“But there was no solution.”
During questioning by detectives and Riau BP3MI, Roma admitted he had found jobs for the victims and arranged their departures to Malaysia without proper documents.
Fanny said his office would continue to prevent the dispatch of illegal migrant workers.
“Trafficking illegal migrant workers is a crime against humanity. We’ll never tolerate anyone taking advantage of people’s misfortune. BP3MI is ready to assist and ensure that all migrant workers receive proper protection,” he said.