Women trafficking syndicate busted

SEMARANG: Central Java Police said on Saturday they had uncovered a syndicate trafficking prostitutes with the help of a victim, a junior high school student who is now four months pregnant.

Central Java Police chief of detectives Comr. Wagisan said officers had arrested four people suspected of being members of the syndicate.

Fitri, a suspect who is a schoolmate of the unnamed victim, denied she was involved in the trafficking network.

The case came to light after the victim's father learned his daughter was pregnant.

The victim told police that she was introduced by Fitri to Aryaningsih, who introduced her to Sri Puryanti. She was then taken to a hotel in Ungaran, some 10 kilometers south of Semarang, where she was sold to a man for Rp 1.5 million (US$180). --JP