Parents Seek Protection from Ministry of Foreign Affairs After Suspecting Their Child Fell Victim to Human Trafficking

NGOCSTIP – Parents seek protection from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after suspecting their child fell victim to human trafficking. Samudi, a father from Jakarta, visited the Ministry on Friday, February 14, 2025, after learning that his son, Frasfadi Putra, might have been coerced into working as an online gambling scam operator in Cambodia. His concerns over his son’s safety led him to request help from the Indonesian government to ensure his child’s protection.

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The Journey to Cambodia

Samudi revealed that his son had initially worked as a personal driver in Kedoya, West Jakarta. Frasfadi wanted a better income to support his siblings and make his parents proud. “He wanted a higher salary, possibly to help his younger siblings who are still studying,” said Samudi. When Frasfadi came across a job opportunity in Cambodia, he accepted the offer without hesitation. He was promised a salary of $800, equivalent to around 12 million rupiahs.

The recruitment agency requested Frasfadi’s personal documents, such as his ID card and family certificate, to process his passport. During this time, Frasfadi stayed in an apartment in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, for three days while the agency arranged his travel documents. Once his passport was ready, he flew from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Pekanbaru, then boarded a ship to Malaysia. From there, he was flown to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where someone from the agency met him and took him to a gambling complex.

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Frasfadi’s Situation in Cambodia

Samudi’s fears grew when he learned that his son was working in a gambling operation, far from the legitimate job he had expected. His son was allegedly involved in an online gambling scam in Cambodia, where he was forced to work under exploitative conditions. As the situation worsened, Samudi turned to Ucok Ardiyanto, a human rights activist, for support. Ucok accompanied the parents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to raise awareness about the case.

A Call for Action

Ucok Ardiyanto expressed his concern for Frasfadi’s situation and other Indonesians potentially falling victim to human trafficking networks. He stated, “I am deeply concerned about this case of human trafficking involving an Indonesian citizen.” The parents of the victim plan to send formal complaints to various Indonesian government authorities, including the Director of Women and Child Protection (PPA), the Indonesian President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Human Rights, and the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP2MI).

Ucok emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging the Indonesian government to intervene and protect its citizens abroad. He pointed out that trafficking networks still recruit many victims, especially in countries like Cambodia. “They promise high wages and take them to Cambodia, where they end up working in online gambling scams,” he said. Ucok called on the government to take swift action and protect these vulnerable workers from exploitation.