TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Director of General Crimes at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), Brigadier General Djuhandhani Raharjo Puro, revealed that 50 Indonesian citizens were victims of Human Trafficking (TPPO) in Sydney, Australia.

“They were forced to work as sex workers in Sydney,” he said at the Criminal Investigation Department building on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.

The victims mostly originated from Java. According to Djuhandhani, the perpetrator did not employ fraudulent job vacancy offers. The victims were aware from the outset that their purpose of departure was to become sex workers.

The police’s focus lies on the irregular departure methods used. The sex workers were sent with improper visas and falsified documents related to the visa issuance quotas.

Djuhandhani explained that before leaving for Sydney, the victims signed an agreement with the suspect, FLA (36 years old). This agreement outlined the profit-sharing percentage between the victims and the perpetrators.

“The victims were also forced to sign a promissory note as collateral in case they terminated the contract,” Djuhandhani added. The value amounted to Rp50 million.

Some victims have since returned home independently, while others remain in Sydney. The case was uncovered through collaboration between the Indonesian Police and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

The case came to light on July 6, 2024, when the AFP informed Indonesian authorities about the presence of Indonesian citizens forced into sex work in Sydney. This information served as the initial groundwork for the National Police's investigation.

Following a thorough investigation, the National Police identified one suspect with the initials FLA. Bareskrim apprehended the suspect on March 12, 2024, in Semanan Village, Kalideres District, West Jakarta. FLA's role was to recruit Indonesian citizens for deployment to Sydney and arrange visas and departure tickets.

The AFP also identified a suspect with the initials SS, also known as badman, who acted as a coordinator for several prostitution camps in Sydney. SS was arrested by the AFP on July 10th, 2024.

JIHAN RISTIYANTI

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