An Italian with the initials GA was arrested by Immigration at Soekarno-Hatta Airport for being involved in human trafficking and smuggling. GA has been on the Indonesian police wanted list since last year.
“The search for GA was hampered because he often moved places, making it difficult to trace. However, our investigators continued to consistently gather information until 26th of June, 2023 when GA was arrested at a luxury hotel in Central Jakarta,” said the Head of the Immigration Office Soekarno-Hatta Muhammad Tito Andrianto to local news on Wednesday 5th of July 2023.
GA was arrested at a five-star hotel in the Central Jakarta area. GAis known to have helped smuggle a Sri Lankan national named PJ by providing a passport identity to falsify. GA plays a role in booking tickets and expediting the PJ check-in process.
GA’s involvement in this human trafficking case was strengthened by CCTV evidence showing GA was at Terminal 3 International Soekarno-Hatta Airport to check in. Then he gave the boarding pass to PJ at the East Lobby Terminal 3 Vaccine Area.
GA asked PJ for compensation of ten thousand US dollars if PJ’s departure process was successful until he arrived at his destination country. PJ is currently serving a prison term at the Tangerang Class I Youth Lapas, Banten, based on the Tangerang District Court’s verdict of 1 year and six months and a fine of IDR 150 million or a subsidiary of 2 months in prison.
For his actions, Tito emphasised that the Italian man could be charged with Article 120 paragraph (2) of Law no. 6 of 2011, concerning Immigration in conjunction with Article 53 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum imprisonment of 15 (fifteen) years and a maximum fine of IDR 1.5 billion.
“Once again I appreciate all Soekarno-Hatta Airport officers who have synergised and assisted in the search for GA. We must maintain this synergy so that all crimes that can harm people and the country can be prevented, especially crimes regarding human trafficking which are now becoming the main concern of the Directorate General of Immigration,” said Director General of Immigration, Ministry of Law and Human Rights Silmy Karim
The Indonesian police have searched GA as a wanted person since November 2022. The attempt to smuggle PJ abroad using a fake passport provided by the Italian is a strong reason for officers to suspect him as a part of an international human trafficking syndicate.
This week, the police also received reports that 14 Indonesian citizens were trapped in overseas hospitals after their kidneys were illegally taken and sold. These 14 Indonesian citizens were promised the opportunity to work overseas, but unbeknownst to them, they had signed a contract agreeing to sell their kidneys on the black market.
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