The Class I Immigration Office (TPI) of Bandar Lampung is investigating alleged ‘mail-order marriage’ practices involving four Chinese nationals and two Indonesian citizens in Pesawaran Regency, Lampung.
On Monday, 2nd of November, Nur Raisha Pujiastuti, Head of the Lampung Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration, said the six individuals underwent intensive questioning from 29 to 31 October. According to Immigration Office records, the two Indonesian citizens questioned were identified by the initials MS (21) and STP (19), while the four Chinese nationals taken into custody were identified by the initials SD (39), DC (33), YH (37) and ZH (32).
“This case has drawn our attention not only because of issues regarding immigration administration but also because it points to potential human trafficking and the exploitation of women,” she said.
Furthermore, Taufiq Hidayat, Head of the Class I Immigration Office in Bandar Lampung, said initial investigations and analysis of digital evidence pointed to a pattern of matchmaking facilitated by intermediaries. According to him, this practice of ‘mail-order’ marriages—which involves commercial transactions—leads to the exploitation of women. He added that the issue requires a comprehensive and integrated response.
“The modus operandi involves offering Indonesian women to Chinese nationals, accompanied by suspected financial or material transactions during the process of siri [unregistered/religious] marriages, communication between the parties involved, and even plans for the victims to travel to China,” he stated.
Additionally, the Head of the Immigration Information and Communication Technology Section at the Bandar Lampung Immigration Office, Fachruddin Romi Noviar Saputra, stated that the identity of the intermediary, as well as their specific role, was still being investigated.
“We are in the process of identifying the intermediary, as well as their role in connecting Chinese nationals with Indonesian women,” he said on Tuesday, 3rd of November.