Of course (they will be inspected). Two companies that provided the departure services did not have licensesJakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the National Police’s General Crime Unit, Police Brigadier General Ferdy Sambodo, stated that his unit's Human Trafficking Crime Task Force would inspect several recruitment agencies that selected crew members for Long Xing 629.
The inspection comes on the heels of an alleged human trafficking case involving Indonesian crew members on the Chinese fishing vessel.
The authorities suspect the departure of the ship's crew members was not carried out in accordance with proper procedures. Additionally, it is suspected that two of the three companies offering labor distribution services are not in possession of complete permit documents.
"Of course (they will be inspected). Two companies that provided the departure services did not have licenses," Sambodo confirmed to ANTARA in Jakarta on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, May 12, 2020, the task force inspected a number of immigration offices, including those in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, and Pemalang, Central Java.
Of the 14 Indonesian crew members who served on Long Xing 629, four had their passports issued by the Tanjung Priok Immigration Office, while the remaining 10 obtained their passports from the Pemalang Immigration Office.
"We checked the validity of the passports and the data. We (checked) virtually with Pemalang Immigration. For Tanjung Priok Immigration, we did it in person," Sambodo explained.
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The task force also carried out inspections at the office of the Tanjung Priok Harbourmaster, which issued seamen's books to the crew members.
As reported earlier, 14 Indonesian citizens who worked as crew members on Long Xing 629 were questioned by the police. Their examination took place on Saturday (May 9, 2020) at the Trauma Center Protection House (RPTC) in Jakarta.
Head of Sub Directorate III, Directorate of General Crime, National Police’s General Crime Unit, Police Chief Commissioner John Weynart Hutagalung, said the task force wore Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while examining the crew members.
"All 14 crew members have been inspected. Investigators were wearing PPEs when they examined the witnesses," he said. (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Anita Permata Dewi/Aria Cindya
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
