Haji Uma Successfully Repatriates North Aceh Residents Who Were Held Hostage for a Ransom of 40 Million Rupiah in Cambodia

25 February 2026 oleh mediadpd

NORTH ACEH, dpd.go.id – A member of the DPD RI from Aceh, Haji Uma, successfully helped repatriate a North Aceh resident, Muhammad Izul, who was suspected of being a victim of human trafficking in Cambodia and had been asked to pay a ransom of IDR 40 million by his employer.

Haji Uma explained that the case began when Muhammad Izul left for Cambodia after Eid al-Adha 2025 through an agent who promised him a job with a salary of US$200 per month. However, upon arrival in Cambodia, the victim was placed with his first company and worked for six months without receiving any salary. “The victim was promised a salary of 200 dollars per month, but during the six months he worked at the first company, he never received a salary,” said Haji Uma.

After six months, the victim was sold again by the agent to another company. At the second company, he also received no salary despite being forced to continue working. The agent then transferred him to another company, where he was employed as an online gambling administrator. “At the next location, the victim was paid two months’ wages. After that, he was not paid again for the following months,” he added.

Under pressure and strict surveillance, the victim was then demanded to pay a ransom of Rp 40 million (approximately US$2,000) in order to be repatriated to Indonesia. The ransom demand was communicated to his family using the employer’s cell phone, while the company withheld all of the victim’s identification documents, including his ID card, passport, and other personal documents. “The victim contacted his family using his employer’s cell phone to inform them about the ransom demand. All of his identification documents were withheld,” he said.

Haji Uma added that throughout the case, his team regularly maintained communication with the Indonesian Embassy in Cambodia. He also sent an official letter to the Indonesian Embassy on January 13, 2026, requesting assistance with the victim’s repatriation. He further stated that all costs for Muhammad Izul’s repatriation were personally covered, from plane tickets to transportation to his hometown, totaling approximately IDR 8 million.

After completing all procedures in Cambodia, Muhammad Izul arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 7:00 p.m. WIB on Saturday, February 22, 2026. He then went through immigration clearance before continuing his journey at 5:00 a.m. WIB on Sunday, February 23, 2026, to Kualanamu International Airport and onward to Aceh with the assistance and support of the DPD RI Protocol Staff.

At around 8:00 p.m. WIB, Muhammad Izul arrived in Lhokseumawe and was then taken to his residence by Mukhtar Abdullah, Geuchik of Cot Euntong Village, Nisam District, North Aceh, following the instructions of Haji Uma.

In particular, Haji Uma expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy in Cambodia for their assistance throughout the handling process and the victim’s return to his homeland. “This was a collaborative effort. I would like to express my gratitude to the Indonesian Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their assistance throughout the process, ensuring the victim’s safe return to Aceh,” Haji Uma concluded.