NGOCSTIP – Police have uncovered an alleged case of human trafficking involving the exploitation of underage girls as prostitutes. Four individuals have been named as suspects in this case: RA, MRC, MR, and R. The incident occurred on January 3, 2025, at a hotel located on Pakubuwono Street, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, according to Kompol Nunu Suparmi, Head of Criminal Investigation at the Kebayoran Baru Police Station, who spoke to the media on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
The investigation revealed that the traffickers lured the two victims in this case, identified as AMD (17) and MAL (19), into the operation. One of the victims, AMD, is a minor, which adds a grave layer to the crime. A friend initially introduced the victims to the operation and then connected them with a pimp known as “Tabok,” who the police are currently seeking. During their meeting with the pimp, he informed the victims that they would need to service 70 clients to earn their wages. If they did not meet the client quota, the traffickers would not pay them.
The arrangement was simple yet exploitative: the traffickers told the victims they had to provide services to 70 clients in exchange for a salary of 3.5 million rupiahs. However, the pay was contingent on the victims meeting the 70-client requirement. If they did not reach the target, the traffickers would not give any payment. The agreement did not specify the timeframe, but the requirement of servicing 70 clients was clear.
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The pimps set various pricing for the services provided by the victims, ranging from 250,000 rupiahs to 1.5 million rupiahs per client. However, the pimps paid the victims only a fraction of what they earned. The victims received just 50,000 rupiahs for each client they serviced, which contrasts sharply with the higher fees the clients paid to the pimps. This financial exploitation highlights the scale of the trafficking operation, where the perpetrators profited at the victims’ expense, who received only a small fraction of the money clients paid for their services.
According to Kompol Nunu, the traffickers used the messaging application Michat to connect with their clients. The suspects arranged for the victims to be placed in hotel rooms reserved for their clients. Two of the suspects served administrative roles, while the other two acted as intermediaries, escorting and guarding the victims as they serviced their clients.
Economic hardship reportedly motivated the victims in this case, leading them to accept the job without fully understanding the exploitation they would face. The parents of the victims were unaware of their daughters’ involvement in this illicit work. This highlights a concerning trend where financial pressures often drive vulnerable individuals to face coercion or deception into situations of exploitation.
The authorities have charged the four suspects involved in this trafficking operation under Articles 2 and 12 of Law No. 21 of 2007 on the Eradication of Human Trafficking. If convicted, the suspects face a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. The police continue their investigation, with a particular focus on apprehending the elusive pimp known as Tabok, who remains at large.
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This case sheds light on the ongoing issue of human trafficking in Indonesia and the vulnerability of young people to such exploitation. It reminds us of the urgent need for vigilance and stronger legal frameworks to protect minors and vulnerable adults from coercion into the sex trade. The authorities have taken swift action by arresting the four suspects, marking a step forward in addressing this issue. However, much work remains to be done in preventing trafficking, supporting victims, and dismantling trafficking networks.
