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March 18, 2025 | 07:22 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan revealed that 554 Indonesian citizens who fell victim to online scams in Myawaddy, Myanmar, were subjected to violence by the companies employing them. The minister said these Indonesians worked under intense pressure at an online scam syndicate’s headquarters, where they faced torture—including beatings and electric shocks—if they failed to meet work targets.
"They were even threatened with having their organs harvested if they couldn’t meet the targets set by the cartel or bosses," Budi Gunawan stated during a press conference at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
Budi added that the companies confiscated the victims’ passports and prohibited them from communicating with anyone, including family members. Based on evidence and indications gathered, he suspects hostage-taking and a massive online scam mafia network are involved.
Minister of Migrant Workers’ Protection Abdul Kadir Karding confirmed the exploitation and torture of these Indonesians. At the same press conference, he noted they were often forced to work with minimal rest and faced physical attacks if their performance fell short of expectations. He recounted meeting a victim who had suffered injuries to their jaw and arm from the violence.
When asked about allegations of organ trafficking, Abdul said he could not yet confirm it. "As of today, we don’t have the data," he admitted.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 400 Indonesians targeted by online scams in Myawaddy arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang. They were flown from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok after undergoing health screenings and the National Referral Mechanism process in Mae Sot, Thailand.
Foreign Minister Sugiono, Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, and Deputy Interior Minister Bima Arya Sugiarto were present at the airport for the victims’ arrival.
According to Foreign Ministry records, the group consisted of 313 men and 87 women, including five who were pregnant. All arrived in healthy condition. The Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand, Rachmat Budiman, personally led the repatriation effort to Jakarta.
These 400 individuals hailed from 21 provinces, with the majority from North Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, West Java, Jakarta, and North Sulawesi.
The Foreign Ministry’s WNI Protection Team, alongside the Indonesian Embassies in Bangkok and Yangon and the National Police’s International Relations Division, identified, escorted, and accompanied the victims from Myawaddy back to Indonesia. The repatriation process was made possible with full support and assistance from Thai and Myanmar authorities through intensive coordination.
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