Eksploitasi 6 buruh Indonesia, 2 beradik dipenjara 7 tahun

In an Indonesian court, a couple was sentenced to seven years in prison for human trafficking six Indonesian women for labor exploitation. The court ruled that the two women, Lie Ying Har, 59, and Lie Ying Ping, 56, held back wages and passports of the victims, causing them financial dependence on the accused and preventing them from moving freely.

Both women were found guilty without reasonable doubt by Judge Norhazimah Shaiffuddin. Initially, the women were taken as domestic helpers before being forced to work in stores selling household items and toys owned by the two accused. All six victims did not dare to challenge their working conditions due to their financial dependence on the two accused.

One victim had not received her salary since 2012 to 2020 and was not given a valid work permit, causing fear of moving and apprehension of arrest. Five other victims testified that they were afraid of being humiliated or intimidated by Ying Ping if they made mistakes while working, according to the judge. The judge noted that the situation of these women resembled modern-day slavery.

The judge stated that each woman's consistent description showed that they were unable to leave for other places due to fear of losing their accumulated salaries for years, indicating the use of wage withholding as a control and coercive mechanism against the accused's victims. On November 27, 2020, Ying Har was charged with two offenses under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking of Persons and Anti-Migrant Smuggling Act 2007 (ATIPM), while Ying Ping faced five charges under the same provision. Both pleaded not guilty.