According to a statement received from the embassy here Thursday, the WNIs comprise five women and 21 men, and belong to several regions of Indonesia, including Medan, Mataram, Batam, Jakarta, Singkawang, Palembang, and Lhokseumawe.
The Indonesian embassy in Yangon, in cooperation with Myanmar's immigration authorities, picked up the job scam victims and brought them out of the region.
The WNIs were picked up by bus from the police office of Myawaddy and handed over to the Indonesian embassy at an immigration office in Myanmar's Hlegu township.
The embassy informed that the WNIs worked in online scam companies, which mostly operated out of the Myawaddy region.
The majority of the WNIs entered Myanmar from the Thai border town of Mae Sot. This is the area where clashes between Myanmar’s army and armed resistance groups have intensified.
One Indonesian citizen had entered Myanmar legally on a business visa, but had overstayed the visa since December 2022.
The Indonesian embassy in Yangon had requested deportation permits for the WNIs from the Myanmar authorities. The deportation permits were issued without any prosecution for penalties or fines for immigration violations.
The Myanmar authorities stated that nine of the 26 Indonesian citizens were victims of human trafficking. The authorities are still conducting an investigation into 17 other citizens at the Indonesian embassy in Yangon.
The embassy has coordinated with the Directorate for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure their return to Indonesia.
The embassy in Yangon will accommodate the 26 Indonesian citizens while waiting for their repatriation to Indonesia.
Related news: Indonesia, Vietnam team up against human trafficking in digital space
Related news: Jakarta Police arrest 10 foreigners over online scam
Reporter: Shofi Ayudiana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
