Woman arrested in Batam for trying to illegally bring 2 Indonesians to work in S'pore as 'dancers'

A woman was arrested trying to leave Batam for Singapore with two Indonesian women on July 29 in a case of human trafficking.

Stomper Daniel alleged that she is a Singapore permanent resident caught for "running girls" in Singapore.

Batam police said at a press conference on Aug 2 that the 42-year-old suspect was detained at the Batam Centre Ferry Terminal.

She was to be paid 3 million rupiah (S$270) by a Singapore nightclub manager for bringing the two Indonesian women, aged 21 and 28, from Jakarta to be employed as "dancers" at the nightclub, where they were promised a salary of $1,400 a month.

Rabu, 2 Agustus 2023
Polsek Kawasan Pelabuhan Melaksanakan " PERSS RELEASE TINDAK PIDANA PERLINDUNGAN PEKERJA MIGRAN INDONESIA / PMI NON PROSEDURAL "@polresta barelang@Polripresisi @mabespolrinews #polri#kapolri#HumasPoldaKepri #Humas polresta Barelang#polripresisisi pic.twitter.com/0ueBvBRlBP

— Polsek Kawasan Pelabuhan Batam (@Kakap_Batam) August 2, 2023

Evidence seized from the suspect included three passports, three ferry tickets to Singapore, an iPhone 14 and an identity card.

Batam police urged Indonesians not to be lured by the money to work overseas illegally, be it in Malaysia or Singapore.

According to the United Nations, Indonesia is a major source country for women, children and men who are subject to sex trafficking and forced labour, with estimates on the number of victims ranging from 100,000 to 1 million people annually.