Human trafficking remains a huge problem in Indonesia, with many vulnerable people going abroad each year in search of a better life only to be exploited or worse. It’s almost incomprehensible to think that the families of these victims are sometimes the ones who force them into it and profit off of their exploitation, but it sadly happens often, as illustrated by this tale from Pontianak in West Sumatra.

West Kalimantan Police Commissioner Krisnanda said the case involved a 16-year-old Chinese-Indonesian girl, identified by her initials ER, who was allegedly sold to a 31-year-old Chinese national Liu Zhong Chai as a bride for Rp 57 million.

Through investigations, West Kalimantan Police learned about the human trafficking case and coordinated with other police forces to arrest Liu when he was in Jakarta last Wednesday.

Police also arrested several other suspects on the case, including another Chinese national suspected of brokering the deal and Ng Kek Jung, ER’s 61-year-old grandmother, who allegedly received Rp 20 million of the Rp 57 million for threatening her granddaughter to go through with the marriage.

“Because I had received the money, the victim’s grandmother persuaded the victim to go through with her engagement to [Liu],” said West Kalimantan Police Spokemsan Suhadi as quoted by Tribunnews.

Liu and ER’s grandmother will both be charged with human trafficking and could face up to 8 years in prison for their crimes.

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