BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR – A 31-year-old woman from Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), identified by the initials NKA, has alleged that she became a victim of suspected human trafficking after being promised a high-paying job as a professional karaoke hostess in Hong Kong, only to be forced into providing sexual services upon her arrival.

Speaking to reporters by phone on Wednesday (July 9, 2026), NKA said she was recruited by a woman identified as Vina from Sukabumi, West Java. According to her account, she was offered a position as a professional karaoke hostess at an entertainment venue called Mungko in Hong Kong, with a promised salary equivalent to Rp35 million (approximately US$2,100) a week.

NKA departed Lombok for Jakarta on June 30, 2026. Upon arriving at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, she said she was met by a man identified as Yanis, whom she described as Vina’s uncle. He allegedly took her to a shelter house in Sukabumi, where she stayed for about a week.

During her stay, NKA said she did not notice anything suspicious. On July 6, she departed for Hong Kong after all travel documents had reportedly been arranged by the recruiters.

After arriving in Hong Kong, NKA took a taxi to the address she had been given. She claimed she was surprised to discover that the destination was an apartment rather than a workplace. Upon arrival, her photograph was taken before she was told to rest and prepare to begin work that evening.

According to NKA, she was then instructed to entertain customers and was allegedly forced to remove all of her clothing while serving them. She said she broke down in tears after realizing that the job was entirely different from what had been promised.

The following day, NKA said she was again instructed to serve a Japanese customer. During the encounter, she told the man that she believed she had been deceived and asked for help escaping. According to her account, the customer gave her HK$500 to help her flee.

NKA said she later pretended she was leaving the apartment to go shopping before taking a taxi to the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Hong Kong. She said consular officials had contacted her after receiving information from the Hong Kong Police.

According to NKA, her family in Lombok had first contacted an acquaintance in Jakarta, who then relayed the information to Hong Kong authorities. Police subsequently coordinated with Indonesian consular officials, who directed her to the consulate.

NKA is currently staying at a shelter operated by the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong, where she has provided a statement to officials.

She said she has been presented with three options: file a formal complaint with Hong Kong Police, remain in Hong Kong and work legally for two months under local immigration regulations, or return to Indonesia.

NKA has chosen to return home. However, she said the cost of repatriation remains a major obstacle. According to her, the airfare is approximately Rp7 million, while only Rp1.5 million has so far been made available through what she described as a personal contribution from a consular officer.

She also said the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government has coordinated with the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong to facilitate her return. As of Wednesday, she was still awaiting confirmation of further financial assistance.

Under Indonesia’s Law No. 18 of 2017 on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, the government is required to provide protection and assistance to migrant workers, including those who are suspected victims of human trafficking. Indonesian diplomatic missions abroad are also mandated to provide protection and support in accordance with applicable laws.

As of the publication of this report, there has been no official statement from the individuals named in NKA’s allegations or from the relevant authorities regarding the alleged recruitment scheme. The case remains under review, pending further action by authorities in both Indonesia and Hong Kong.