[Thanks to 'anonymous' for providing this translation]

The Wife of Abu Quassey Facing 5 Years In Prison

19 April 2002
Jakarta
Sinar Harapan ('Ray of Hope')

Just as the husband was arrested last November, now it is the wife’s turn. Linda Hagoeb Minas (38), wife of Abu Quassey smuggler of illegal immigrants from Pakistan to Australia [through Indonesia], was arrested by immigration officers two days ago (17 April) at her place of residence, an apartment building in Pulomas, East Jakarta, where she resided with her ten year old child and two servants who are Indonesian citizens.

A citizen of Iraq, Ms Minas, who is currently under investigation by immigration authorities, has confessed to having already entered Indonesia twice without contacting an immigration office, having been escorting a number of illegal immigrants on both these occasions. For these violations of immigration regulations she is facing five years in prison.

Ade E Dachlan, Head of Public Relations for the Directorate General of Immigration, stated in an interview given in his office, 'At the least, she’s looking at five years imprisonment for breaking immigration law.'

The Immigration Directorate General is also currently investigating the extent of Ms Minas' involvement in the [people smuggling] activities of her husband, Abu Quassey, who right now is under investigation by Police Headquarters. According to Mr Dachlan, there is high probability that Ms Minas was participating in her husband's people smuggling. In fact, this is not the first time the Baghdad-born Ms Minas has come to the attention of the Immigration Directorate General, as on 13 March 2000 she was deported, having entered Indonesia by small ship at Tanjung Balai Asahan from Malaysia, using a passport of doubtful validity.

Mr Dachlan went on to say that the most recent arrest was based on enquiries which yielded initial information from fellow residents in Ms Minas' apartment building where she has lived since last November. They had become suspicious because Ms Minas had absolutely no knowledge whatsoever of the Indonesian language.

Meanwhile, Abu Quassey himself is currently imprisoned at Police Headquarters. Alias Abu Kaiz, alias Centinkaya Nagun (36), he is a citizen of Egypt of Turkish descent. He was arrested in Bandung on 4 November 2001. The so-called people smuggler had been charging illegal immigrants - most of whom came from Turkey, Iraq and Afghanistan - between US$700 and US$1500 per head.


Istri Abu Quassey Diancam Hukuman 5 Tahun

19 April 2002
Jakarta, Sinar Harapan

Setelah suaminya tertangkap di bulan November lalu, kali ini sang istri menyusul. Linda Hagoeb Minas (38), istri dari penyelundup imigran gelap dari ke Australia, asal Pakistan Abu Quassey, ditangkap oleh petugas Imigrasi lusa lalu (17/04) di kediamannya, rumah susun Pulomas Jakarta Timur bersama satu anaknya (10) dan dua orang pembantunya yang berkewarganegaraan RI..

Linda, warga negara Irak yang saat ini tengah diperiksa oleh aparat pengawasan dan Penindakan Keimigrasian tersebut mengakui telah dua kali masuk ke wilayah RI tanpa melalui kantor pengawasan keimigrasian ke Indonesia dengan membawa beberapa orang imigran secara illegal. Untuk pelanggaran keimigrasian saja, ia diancam hukuman 5 tahun penjara.

Demikian, Ade E Dachlan, Kahumas Ditjen Imigrasi mengatakan kepada SH, Kamis (18/04). "Setidaknya karena pelanggaran keimigrasiannya saja ia kena ancaman hukuman 5 tahun," ujarnya ketika ditemui di ruang kerjanya, kemarin.

Pihak imigrasi juga tengah meneliti sejauh mana keterlibatan dengan jaringan penyalur imigran gelap yang dikepalai oleh suaminya, Abu Queassey yang saat ini masih dalam penyidikan Mabes Polri. Menurut Ade, besar kemungkinan ia juga turut serta dalam usaha suaminya itu. Wanita kelahiran Baghdad itu pun sebenarnya telah masuk daftar cekal imigrasi RI sejak tahun 2000. Dan, ia pun sempat dideportasi pada 13 Maret 2000. Uniknya, ia memiliki paspor yang kini tengah diteliti keasliannya dan berhasil masuk ke wilayah RI menumpang kapal kecil dari Malaysia ke Tanjung Balai Asahan.

Ade menceritakan, penangkapan tersebut berdasarkan penyelidikan yang mendapat informasi awal dari masayarakat setempat, penghuni rumah susun tersebut. Linda, yang tinggal sejak November tahun lalu di tempat tersebut dicurigai penghuni lainnya karena tidak bisa berbahsa Indonesia sama sekali.

Sementara, Abu Queassey sendiri saat ini masih mendekam di tahanan Mabes Polri. Abu Quassey alias Abu Kaiz alias Centinkaya Nagun (36) warga negara Mesir keturunan Turki ditangkap di Bandung pada tanggal 4 November 2001 di Bandung. Disebut- sebut penyelundup manusia ini mendapatkan bayaran US $ 700-1.500 per kepala imigran gelap yang kebanyakan berasal dari Turki, Irak dan Afganistan. (rik)

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