KP2MI Facilitates Repatriation of Central Kalimantan Man Held in Cambodia
The Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) is finalising the repatriation of Indonesian citizen Supiat, a resident of South Barito Regency, Central Kalimantan, who became a victim of human trafficking and an online scam syndicate in Cambodia. Minister Mukhtarudin conducted a direct video call with Supiat, who is currently at the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) shelter in Phnom Penh, to confirm his condition and the completeness of his administrative documents. During the dialogue, Mukhtarudin affirmed that the state would be present and bear all repatriation facilities due to the financial constraints faced by the victim’s family in his home region.
Supiat, 21, was initially enticed by a non-procedural job offer promising him a position as a plantation cleaner in Malaysia with high wages. However, the syndicate unilaterally diverted his departure route to Cambodia, where he was confined and forced to work as an online scam operator. Working under pressure, Supiat never received a salary because he failed to meet the company’s targets. Following a large-scale raid by Cambodian security authorities, the illegal company disbanded, and Supiat was successfully evacuated under the protection of the KBRI Phnom Penh.
Based on technical reports and the latest coordination with the KBRI Phnom Penh, the plan to facilitate Supiat’s return has been scheduled, and he will be repatriated from Cambodia to Indonesia as soon as possible. Upon arrival in Indonesia, further handling processes, including transit facilities and initial psychological recovery, will be managed directly by the Banten Migrant Worker Protection Service Centre (BP3MI), before the victim moves to the Migrant Worker Protection Service Post Office (P4MI) for repatriation to his home region.
The domestic flight to Central Kalimantan Province will be fully covered by the Ministry. To guarantee post-trauma safety, Minister Mukhtarudin has ensured the victim will not undertake the overland journey alone. The ministry has assigned a team from the local representative office to pick up Supiat at the local airport and escort him using an official service vehicle until he arrives safely at his family’s home in South Barito. “Once you arrive in the region, our regional office staff will escort you all the way to Buntok, to your home,” Minister Mukhtarudin stated. He also urged Supiat to remain calm, maintain his physical health, and treat this dark event as a valuable lesson to be more cautious of non-procedural overseas job offers in the future.
This swift action by the Ministry is expected to set a good precedent and reaffirm that the state is always present to protect the rights of all its citizens. Supiat expressed his deep appreciation for the government’s rapid response, specifically thanking the KBRI Phnom Penh and Minister Mukhtarudin for their direct intervention. He noted that the tangible care shown by the ministry and the embassy was deeply meaningful for him and his family, who had been overwhelmed with anxiety due to their limited funds for his return.