The eight nationals hail from Pesawaran, Lampung; Karawang, West Java; Purwakarta, West Java; Bekasi, West Java; and Sumbawa Island, West Nusa Tenggara.
At a press conference in Tangerang, Banten, on Thursday, Indonesian Migrant Workers' Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding said that the non-procedural prospective migrant workers were taken to a safe house run by the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Service Center (BP3MI), Banten.
"Most of them fell victim (to the human trafficking attempt) due to economic pressure," he informed.
He added that the government will soon help the rescued workers return to their regions of origin.
Karding further said that the Bogor Police of West Java intercepted the eight Indonesian citizens who were reportedly about to leave for Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.
"The trafficker falsely promised the eight people a wage of Rp9 million (over US$555). However, their passports were seized instead. We have found seven of the passports," he added.
The minister said that his ministry and the police had apprehended one suspect, identified with the initials ALS.
He affirmed that the Ministry of Migrant Workers' Protection will continue to combat the practices of human trafficking and bring perpetrators to justice.
"Indonesia's law stipulates that human trafficking is punishable by a minimum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp5 billion (US$308.6 thousand). No one should take such a crime lightly," he emphasized.
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Translator: Azmi S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Arie Novarina
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