Fajarasia.id – Indonesian lawmaker Mercy Barends, a member of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has raised concerns over an alleged human trafficking case involving 18-year-old Rizki Nur Fadhilah from Bandung. Rizki was promised a football contract but was reportedly exploited in Cambodia as part of an online scamming syndicate.
The case surfaced after Rizki’s family revealed the chronology of his departure. Initially, he received an offer via social media from someone claiming to represent a football club in Medan. What was believed to be the start of a professional career instead turned into forced relocation abroad, ending in exploitation.
In her statement on Thursday (November 20, 2025), Mercy emphasized that Rizki’s case is not an isolated incident but reflects systemic weaknesses in Indonesia’s migrant worker protection framework.
“This is not merely an individual case but a systemic failure. A football contract promise was used as a cover for human trafficking, and this cannot be tolerated,” Mercy asserted.
She also criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for stating that Rizki was “not indicated as a victim of human trafficking,” calling the stance unsympathetic and dismissive of the victim’s plight.
As Chair of PDI-P’s Department for Labor and Migrant Worker Protection, Mercy outlined six urgent measures for the government:
- Immediate repatriation of Rizki with guarantees for his physical and psychological safety, alongside legal and trauma-care support.
- Firm prosecution of trafficking syndicates, including local recruiters and international networks.
- Stronger regulation and oversight of labor recruitment agencies, particularly illegal operators.
- Acceleration of the Migrant Worker Protection Bill (PPMI), with criminal sanctions against illegal recruiters.
- Easier access to trafficking case reporting through hotlines and institutional support at home and abroad.
- Stricter monitoring of youth athlete recruitment via bilateral agreements to prevent sports from being misused as a trafficking cover.
According to family accounts, Rizki left Dayeuhkolot on October 26, 2025, heading to Jakarta before flying to Medan. Instead of attending football trials, he was transferred to Malaysia and later taken to Cambodia. On October 29, just three days after leaving home, Rizki informed his family that he was already in Cambodia.
Mercy stressed that Rizki’s ordeal is a “red alert” for Indonesia, underscoring the urgent need for stronger legal frameworks and coordinated enforcement to protect vulnerable youth from false promises and exploitation.
“As a party deeply concerned about migrant workers and the younger generation, we demand the government and law enforcement agencies act decisively and in unison to prevent similar tragedies,” she concluded.****
