JAKARTA: A resident of Medan, North Sumatra, is believed to have fallen victim to transnational human trafficking after being tricked into joining the Russian military. The man, identified only as FSR, was lured to work in logistics with a salary of Rp 80 million (US$4,384) per month in Russia.
Upon arrival in Russia, however, FSR discovered that he was not to be employed as initially promised. He was instead recruited as a Russian solider to fight in the war against Ukraine.
North Sumatra Police’s Women’s and Children’s Protection and Human Trafficking Directorate chief, Senior Commander Kristinatara Wahyuningrum, confirmed that her directorate had received the report. “The report is still new and in the investigation process,” she said on Thursday (Nov 12), as quoted by kompas.com.
The case began when FSR’s mother, identified only as SL, filed a report with the North Sumatra Police on Oct. 31 after she believed that her son had become a victim of human trafficking. The police report was filed against a travel agent, identified only as FN, who was suspected of being involved in the victim’s recruitment process.
Based on SL’s police report, FSR had received an employment offer through the travel agent to work in the logistics field with a salary of Rp 80 million per month. The salary offer was part of the employment deal that persuaded the victim to work abroad.
FSR departed for Russia from Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang regency on Oct.18 at about 4 a.m. The situation changed when FSR arrived at his destination.
He contacted his family and said his job was not in accordance with the initial agreement. Instead of working in the logistics field, FSR was recruited as a Russian soldier to fight in the frontline as a mercenary.
At least 292 Indonesians have joined Russian forces this year, compared with fewer than 10 in the previous three years combined, although the Foreign Ministry was still verifying the figures.
Jakarta formally asked Moscow this month to halt the recruitment of Indonesians following reports in October of the death of an Indonesian national serving with the Russian military. The Foreign ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said on Tuesday that the government would continue working closely with Russia on the issue.
"The Indonesian government has asked the Russian government to take all necessary steps to ensure that no Indonesians are recruited into the Russian military or any other military-related positions in Russia through any channels," she said.
The National Police have traced the recruitment network to an alleged human trafficking syndicate that uses social media platforms and messaging applications to target potential recruits with offers of jobs in logistics, border security and construction.
After arriving in Russia, applicants are allegedly pressured into signing military contracts and, in some cases, deployed to combat zones with little or no training. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
