The Indonesian men, along with the woman and her baby, seen following their arrest.
SRI AMAN (July 9): An unemployed man from Sibu was arrested by police after he was caught by General Operations Force personnel transporting a group of Indonesians in Kampung Rapak, Pantu on Wednesday.
Sri Aman police chief DSP Bingkok John said the 48-year-old man was detained around 11am while driving four Indonesian men aged between 22 and 40 years, as well as a 25-year-old Indonesian woman and her five-month-old baby.
“Early investigation revealed the local suspect had been hired by his friend, known only as Ah Liang, to transport the four Indonesian men from Kota Sentosa in Kuching, to Simpang Lachau in Sri Aman.
“His friend, Ah Liang, had promised to pay him RM800 for the job,” said Bingkok in a statement yesterday.
He said the four Indonesian men, who did not have valid travel documents, had entered the state on July 5 via an illegal route in Entikong, with the aim of securing jobs in Bintulu.
An Indonesian agent identified only as Daing had arranged for the illegal entry of the four Indonesian men, who spent two days at a hotel in Kuching before being picked up by the local suspect, Bingkok added.
As for the Indonesian woman and her infant daughter, Bingkok said she had approached the local suspect for help after he and the four Indonesian men had stopped at Kampung Rapak – located before Simpang Lachau – to ease themselves.
“The woman had asked the local suspect to help send her to Sarikei to meet her husband who has been working there for the past five years.
“The local suspect agreed as he was headed back to Sibu after dropping off the four Indonesian men at Simpang Lachau,” he said.
According to Bingkok, the woman possesses a passport but was also found to have entered the country via an illegal route.
He said the local suspect, who has three criminal records relating to drugs, will be investigated under Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, while the foreigners under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
“We will apply for a 28-day remand order against the local suspect under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 to enable further investigation,” he added.