Niranjan was arrested (after the police received) information from two other suspects who were nabbed earlier. They have been identified as Lizar alias Rizal (arrested) in Batam and Juan Avel (arrested) in Bekasi
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) of the National Police has arrested a Sri Lankan citizen on charges of smuggling 120 Sri Lankan nationals to France.

The Sri Lankan named Edumpiah Niranjan is one of eight persons accused in the smuggling case. He had been on the run and was arrested after police obtained information from two other suspects apprehended in the case.

Niranjan was arrested from his rented accommodation on Babakan Sukamantri Street in Pasir Kuda Village, West Bogor on Tuesday (March 17), said Bareskrim Chief Commissioner General Listyo Sigit Prabowo on Wednesday in Jakarta.

"Niranjan was arrested (after the police received) information from two other suspects who were nabbed earlier. They have been identified as Lizar alias Rizal (arrested) in Batam and Juan Avel (arrested) in Bekasi," he said.

With the arrest of Edumpiah NIranjan, five suspects are now on the run.

"Police have launched a manhunt for the other suspects," Prabowo said.

Explaining Niranjan's role in the smuggling operation, Bareskrim Director of General Crimes, Brigadier General Ferdy Sambo, said he served as a financier.

"Edumpiah Niranjan gave Rp150 million in cash to suspect Juan Avel," said Sambo.

The money was used to hire a ship to carry the 120 Sri Lankan nationals from Pelabuhan Rati in West Java's Sukabumi to France's Reunion Island, he said.

"Edumpiah Niranjan was also a liaison officer for suspect Susi Karan (the controller of the Sri Lankan nationals), who stayed in Australia, and suspect Sati Silent who stayed in Bali (currently at large)," he said.

In relation to the human trafficking case, the Bareskrim had earlier arrested Rizal, suspected of being the main recruiter of two crew members identified as M. Aziz and Haryanto.

Rizal was arrested at the Tanjung Balai Karimun Port in Riau Islands on March 10, while Juana Avel alias Toni was arrested in Bekasi, West Java, on March 12.

Juan was arrested on charges of buying and preparing the ship for carrying the Sri Lankan nationals to Reunion Island.



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Translator: Anita Permata Dewi/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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