Surabaya (ANTARA News) - Tanjung Perak police foiled the dispatch of Indonesian migrant workers to Malaysia.

One of the perpetrators SR (24) of Batu Marmer, Pamekasan, Madura, had been arrested by the police which also safeguarded five migrant workers, four of them female.

"We have named SR as suspect, and the five TKIs witnesses because they were merely victims. We are still in pursuit of another perpetrator with the initial SL," Tanjung Perak police chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Yuda Gustawan said at his office here Monday.

The arrest came after police received reports that unusual things are happening in a certain house at Jalan Kalimas Baru III, and it later turned out that the house provided accommodation for TKIs wishing to go to Malaysia.

The police seized Rp14.8 million and a cell phone from the gang.

In the meantime, the four TKIs namely Hoiriyah (19), Farida (19), Maniah (20) and Nur (32), from Proppo, Pamekasan, Madura, and the male Khosairi (31) came from Plengaan, Pamekasan.

The perpetrators told police investigators that each of the prospective TKIs had to pay them Rp3.5 million.

"They plan boarding a plane in Surabaya for Batam, then crossing to Johor, Malaysia, and travel by land to Kuala Lumpur," he said. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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