Indonesian police bust child traffickers en route to S'pore
File photo of a boat in Indonesian waters.
The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network
Sunday, Jul 15, 2012
Indonesian police have foiled an attempt to smuggle children to Singapore by sea and rescued four girls and a boy, police said yesterday.
A 52-year-old man, identified only as HZ, was arrested following a raid on Wednesday on the Lambelu passenger ship at Tanjung Priok Port, a subdistrict of North Jakarta, Tanjung Priok detective unit chief Adj. Comr. Wirdhanto Hadicaksono said at a conference yesterday.
The ship was en route to Kijang near Batam from Baubau, Southeast Sulawesi, he added.
Four girls and one boy between the ages of 14 and 17 were on board the ship with HZ.
Wirdhanto said that the five children met HZ and a woman referred to as "Mama L" in a village chief's house in Pasar Wajo, Baubau, on July 5.
HZ and Mama L reportedly offered them jobs at a hotel in Batam.
"HZ and Mama L offered jobs with big salaries, boat tickets and clothes. In exchange, they had to stay at Mama L's house until the departure date and were not allowed to contact their parents," Wirdhanto said.
They boarded the ship on July 8 and later discovered that they would work in Singapore instead of Batam.
better watch ur backside.
