TEMPO.CO, Medan - The Subdirectorate IV of Youth, Children, and Women of the North Sumatra Regional Police's Criminal Investigation Unit thwarted an attempt to send five illegal migrant workers to Malaysia. The five victims were saved from alleged human trafficking.
The five victims are all North Sumatran residents: SR (20 years old), a resident of Pematang Bandar; OLH (26) and LMS (25), residents of North Tapanuli; NAS (25), a resident of Percut Sei Tuan; and DLS (42), a resident of Pematangsiantar.
Police director of the Criminal Investigation Unit, Commissioner Ricko Taruna Mauruh, explained that the discovery was made on July 17-18, 2025, after receiving information about the alleged human trafficking through sea routes via Dumai, Riau Province.
The police, said Ricko, rescued the victims from a shelter on Sriwijaya Street, Kelurahan Melayu, Siantar Utara District, Pematangsiantar City, North Sumatra, before taking them to Dumai. "The victims were promised jobs as domestic assistants, cleaning service workers, and office admins in Malaysia," said Ricko on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
The victims were promised a salary of Rp6.1 million to Rp6.5 million per month. However, their salaries would be deducted for three months at Rp2.3 million to Rp2.6 million per month, or about 600-700 Malaysian Ringgit.
Officers arrested a female agent, Rita Zahara (55 years old), a resident of Jalan Sriwijaya, North Sianta, who was later named as a suspect. "Investigation found that Rita did not charge any fees from the victims. Instead, she covered all accommodations, such as busfares, ship tickets, and passport arrangements. Profit was obtained from deductions from the victims' salaries while working in Malaysia," said Ricko.
The suspect, according to Ricko, admitted to sending illegal workers since 2022 after the COVID-19 pandemic. For every person successfully placed, Rita made a profit of around Rp7 million. Rita will be charged under the Human Trafficking Eradication Law.
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