Kesaksian Korban Penipuan Kerja Myanmar, Dianiaya Perekrut hingga Tak Berdaya | iNews Files | 25/04

Summary

A harrowing account of over 500 Indonesian citizens trafficked to Myanmar, forced into online scam operations. These individuals faced physical abuse, including beatings and electrocution, and were subjected to threats of organ harvesting. Despite being promised lucrative work, they were trapped and exploited in Myanmar's criminal syndicates. Some managed to escape and return home, but their journey was fraught with hardship. The incident highlights the challenges of combating human trafficking and the importance of stronger enforcement against such crimes.

Takeaways

• 😀 554 Indonesian citizens (WNI) were trafficked to Myanmar and forced to work in online scam operations.
• 😀 Victims faced severe physical abuse, including beatings, electric shocks, and threats of organ harvesting if targets were not met.
• 😀 313 men and 87 women from 21 provinces in Indonesia were among the victims who were repatriated to Indonesia on March 18, 2025.
• 😀 The trafficking syndicate operated primarily in Myanmar, but victims were transported from Thailand after being promised customer service jobs abroad.
• 😀 One suspect, HR, was arrested for offering fake jobs as a customer service representative, only to have victims trafficked to Myanmar to participate in scams.
• 😀 Many of the victims were deceived by advertisements on platforms like Telegram, promising high-paying jobs abroad, which turned out to be a scam.
• 😀 The victims endured harsh conditions and were forced to create fraudulent social media profiles to scam others, facing constant physical punishment when targets were not met.
• 😀 One victim described the torment of working in the scam operation, including being tortured and detained in a makeshift prison when caught contacting family or the Indonesian embassy.
• 😀 The victims were threatened with violence and were financially exploited, being told to pay large sums (e.g., Rp50 million) to return home, only to be sold again in a trafficking ring.
• 😀 Despite the government's efforts to evacuate the victims and provide shelter, the overall effectiveness of Indonesia's law enforcement in preventing human trafficking and supporting victims remains a significant concern.

Q & A

How many Indonesian citizens were returned after being victims of human trafficking in Myanmar?

A total of 554 Indonesian citizens were returned after being victims of human trafficking in Myanmar.

What was the primary reason the Indonesian citizens were trafficked to Myanmar?

The Indonesian citizens were trafficked to Myanmar to work in online scam centers, part of a larger Southeast Asian criminal syndicate.

Where did the victims arrive after being repatriated to Indonesia?

The victims arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia.

Which regions in Indonesia did the victims primarily come from?

The victims primarily came from North Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, West Java, Jakarta, and North Sulawesi.

What kind of abuse did the Indonesian victims face while working for the syndicate?

The victims faced physical abuse, including beatings, electrocution, and threats, including the threat of organ removal if they did not meet certain targets.

How were the victims transported to Myanmar?

The victims were transported to Myanmar by bus after being initially taken to Thailand, where they were then transferred to Myanmar.

What job was promised to the victims, and how did it turn out?

The victims were promised jobs as customer service representatives in Thailand, but instead, they were sent to Myanmar to work in online scams, without receiving the promised wages.

What was the modus operandi of the trafficker HR, who was arrested?

HR, the trafficker, offered jobs as customer service representatives in Thailand but instead sent the victims to Myanmar, where they worked as part of the scam operations without pay.

How did the victim's understanding of the situation change as they traveled?

The victim initially thought they were going to work in Thailand, but during the long bus ride and upon reaching a remote area in Myanmar, they realized they had been deceived and trafficked.

What did the victims have to endure in Myanmar apart from physical abuse?

Apart from physical abuse, the victims were forced to work long hours without payment, were threatened, and subjected to harsh working conditions, including being referred to as 'robots' and 'money machines.'

What led to the victims' eventual escape from Myanmar?

The victims' escape was triggered when they were informed by other Indonesians that they could finally leave. They managed to evade further abuse and were assisted by soldiers to flee to Indonesia.