We are still in the investigation process regarding GA's involvement, whether he worked alone or with the help of an international networkTangerang, Banten (ANTARA) - The Directorate General of Immigration of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights is investigating the suspected involvement of an Italian national in an international people-smuggling (TPPM) racket.
The Italian national has been identified by the alias GA.
"We are still in the investigation process regarding GA's involvement, whether he worked alone or with the help of an international network," Director General of Immigration, Silmy Karim, said in Tangerang on Wednesday.
The authority in November 2022 arrested a Sri Lankan national, identified by the initials PJ, at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten for using a fake passport provided by GA.
He informed that after indications of GA's involvement in the case, his party launched a hunt for him. GA was finally arrested in June 2023.
"GA has been a fugitive since November 2022. Previously, we have arrested a Sri Lankan citizen," Karim added.
He said he suspects that the Italian national served as a provider for or a member of an international syndicate. GA is also suspected to have been involved in similar cases in the past, Karim added.
"This perpetrator has lived in Indonesia for quite a long time. We suspect this is not his first time committing TPPM crime," he explained.
Based on the results of an interim examination, GA had asked the victim to provide US$10 thousand in cash and guaranteed they would reach the destination country, he informed.
"Currently, the Sri Lankan foreigner is at the Tangerang Class I Prison after being sentenced by a judge to one year and six months' imprisonment and a fine of Rp150 million," Karim said.
Meanwhile, Head of the Class I Immigration Office at Soekarno Hatta Airport Muhammad Tito Andrianto said that officers managed to arrest him by disguising themselves as prospective clients and offering GA double the money.
"Our officers pretended to become his customers in doubling money. GA has lived in Indonesia for 32 years. We suspect that this is not his first criminal act," he informed.
GA has been charged under Article 120 Paragraph (2) of Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration in conjunction with Article 53 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum fine of Rp1.5 billion.
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Translator: Azmi Syamsul M, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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