Man nabbed with 24 women

M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post/Ambon

Ambon Police arrested on Thursday night a Malaysian national for his alleged role in human trafficking.

The Malaysian national, Risqy Rajaquruqman, was apprehended while escorting 24 women set to work in Malaysia.

The arrest took place aboard commercial ship Lambelu, which was to have transported the woman from an Ambon seaport to Tanjung Pinang seaport near the Malaysian border.

The suspect nearly slipped through police fingers but a family member of one of the workers reported his whereabouts to police.

Though he resisted arrest, the discovery of forged immigration and labor documents added to police suspicions.

Risqy and the women were taken to Ambon Police Headquarters for questioning.

It was discovered that Risqy was also wanted by the Malaysian government. He was known to have often committed manpower crimes using five different names. "We are investigating the case," said Ambon and Lease Islands Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Leonidas Braksan.

The Ambon Police said Risqy had posed as the representative of a labor supply company headquartered in Malaysia. He had been recruiting women on Ambon Island and Seram Island over the last few weeks to reach his target of 24.

Police are still investigating whether the Malaysian national is part of a network that supplies Indonesian labor to Malaysia.

The suspect has not been charged as the investigation is ongoing.