11 Taiwanese karaoke guides arrested
JAKARTA (JP): Eleven Taiwanese women have been arrested for allegedly violating immigration regulations by working as karaoke guides without permits at an entertainment center in West Jakarta, police said.
The women, who worked as karaoke guides at the Raja Mas entertainment center, were arrested at different places in West Jakarta Wednesday night.
A police source said the women entered the country via Singapore either with tourist visas or visa-free facilities.
The City Police Foreigner Supervision unit has also arrested two Indonesian men for allegedly taking care of the women's accommodation and transportation during their stay in Jakarta.
The source requesting anonymity said the two men were arrested last year for involvement in a similar case.
"Police are still trying to nail another local man who played the biggest role in the case, who provided jobs for these women at the Raja Mas entertainment center," he said.
Another man, a foreigner identified as Mr. T, who allegedly handled the women's traveling arrangements from Singapore, was still at large, he said. Police contacted Interpol in Singapore to locate the suspect, he added.
He said people entering the country without work visas are prohibited from working and earning money.
One of the 11 women, Cia Hui, 26, was arrested at the Dusit Hotel on Jl. Mangga Dua Raya, and another four -- Fang Fang, 25, Siauw Hui, 21, Xu Li, 27, and Helen, 24 -- were arrested at the Mercury Hotel on Jl. Pangeran Jayakarta.
The remaining six women -- Ya Wen, 27, Wendy, 27, Liu Ling, 27, Qing Qing, 22, and Yue Erl, 25 -- were arrested at a special dormitory at Jl. Pangeran Jayakarta Raya Block 46/5B.
Police said that one of the two arrested men, Asanuddin Artono, 30, was the owner of the dormitory which was set up as a place to stay for the foreign women who worked at the entertainment center.
The other man was Karim Sutanto, 41, who helped Asanuddin look for prospective customers who wanted to book the women, as well as take care of the women's transportation and security needs, police said.
Police said Asanuddin confessed he cooperated with a man named Rudi, the owner of Raja Mas, in organizing jobs for the women.
"I took a part of the booking fees paid by customers," police quoted Asanuddin as saying.
"The women worked as karaoke guides and could be booked for at least five hours at Rp 35,000 (US$14) an hour," police quoted Asanuddin as saying.
Asanuddin said the women were paid Rp 2.5 million a month as karaoke guides at Raja Mas and stayed here between two and six months.
Police said Asanuddin denied allegations that the women were prostitutes. "Even if they were, that's none of my business," Asanuddin said.
Police said there were indications that the activities were well organized.
There were different parties who arranged different aspects of the illegal business, including finances, travel, security, accommodations, jobs, and booking orders, police said.
Police said all arrested people violated Article 50 of 1992 Immigration Law No. 9 on immigration and work permits. If found guilty they could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a Rp 25 million fine. (cst)