LPSK Finds One Child Victim of Human Trafficking in Maumere, Originating from West Java
“The designation of suspects was carried out after investigators obtained more than two valid pieces of evidence,” said Kupang (ANTARA) - The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) found one victim and 13 victims of human trafficking from West Java in Sikka Regency, who are still minors.
“We recorded that one person is indeed a minor, and the others are adults,” said Deputy Chairman of LPSK, Sri Suparyati, in Kupang, Thursday.
This was conveyed during a press conference to provide official information regarding the establishment of the LPSK Representative Office in NTT, strengthening the role of LPSK in the region, and LPSK’s response to issues of witness and victim protection that are of public concern in NTT.
Sri said that the 13 victims of human trafficking in Maumere City, Sikka Regency, have received assistance from the UPDT West Java.
Sri explained that the LPSK team had gone directly to the field, including through the representative office in NTT last week.
In the initial identification process, authorities had named two suspects, although at that time no arrests were made.
A request for protection has been submitted for the 13 victims. The forms of protection provided by LPSK include legal assistance, psychological support, and social rehabilitation.
Previously, the Criminal Investigation Unit (Sat Reskrim), Sikka Police, East Nusa Tenggara Police, named a husband and wife, the owners of Eltras Cafe, Bar and Karaoke, with the initials YGC and MAR, as suspects in a case of Human Trafficking with 13 victims from West Java.
Sikka Police Chief AKBP Bambang Supeno in Maumere, said the designation of the suspects was carried out after investigators held a case review regarding the case on Monday (23/2) yesterday.
“The designation of suspects was carried out after investigators obtained more than two valid pieces of evidence,” he said.
The Police Chief said that based on the evidence, the participants in the case review agreed that the elements of the alleged crime of human trafficking had been met in accordance with the applicable legal regulations.
He explained that the process of designating suspects was carried out through an internal, objective and professional case review mechanism.
Furthermore, investigators will complete the administrative procedures for the designation of suspects, send summons letters to the suspects, carry out investigations, prepare and complete the case file, and send the case file to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for further legal proceedings.
In addition, investigators will also seize other evidence that is related to the alleged crime.
The Police Chief added that the articles charged are Article 455 paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) Jo Article 20 letters a and c of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code Jo Law No. 1 of 2026 concerning Amendments to the Criminal Code.
The threat of imprisonment is at least 3 years and at most 15 years and a fine of at least category 4 and at most category 7 (IDR 200 million to IDR 5 billion).