11 Taiwanese karaoke guides arrested
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)