A local court found two Balinese citizens guilty of human trafficking in a scandal involving 13 migrant workers sent to Turkey.
Komang Puja Rasmiasa, 33, and Anak Agung Kade Ratna Sawitri, 39, were each sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment by the Singaraja District Court today. The punishment was more lenient than the seven years demanded by prosecutors in their indictment.
The pair were also ordered to pay IDR400 million (US$26,961) in fines in lieu of an additional six months behind bars. They were ordered to pay at least IDR528 million (US$35,589) in restitution fees to the victims.
“If they do not pay the restitution fees, then they will get an additional 10 months’ imprisonment each,” Presiding Judge Heriyanti said in her ruling.
The court found the two convicts drafted fictitious job letters and lured 13 people to work in Turkey. However, the victims soon found out that they were actually duped, as the scammers had sent them to Turkey using tourist visas and that they had reserved a hotel in the country in order to help them pass immigration at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta.
The victims reportedly lived in fear in Turkey as they did not have stay permits and work visas.
