How Sister Ika saved 13 women from human trafficking
Sister Fransiska Imakulata was contacted by a woman held captive in a nightclub in Maumere. She and Sikka police freed the victims, who were found without papers. After their release, the women were taken to a safe house run by TRUK-F, an NGO of which the woman religious is president, before they were returned to their families in West Java.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – In Maumere, in a cramped room in the early hours of the morning, a young woman held back tears. The door was locked. Her mobile phone was her only escape route. On 20 January 2026, she sent a WhatsApp message to a nun known for defending women victims of violence: Sister Fransiska Imakulata, a member of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), affectionately known as Sister Ika.
The brief message brought to light alleged human trafficking practices at a nightclub in Maumere, Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province.
“I first received a WhatsApp message from one of these 13 women. She asked for help to get her out of a pub in Maumere,” Sister Ika said.
The woman, originally from West Java province, said she was under pressure and depressed, was not allowed to leave her room, prevented from going to the advocacy office in person. It later emerged that she was not alone: 12 other women faced the same terrifying fate.
The 13 women, all from the same province, were allegedly subjected to physical violence, sexual harassment, and intimidation, seemingly forced to perform work not in their contract, confined, trapped in debt by the nightclub management.
Sister Ika is no stranger to assisting women victims of violence in Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province. She is president of the Flores Humanitarian Volunteer Team (TRUK-F), an advocacy NGO under the Catholic Diocese of Maumere, which assists women and children victims of violence, including those caught up in human trafficking.
After receiving the message, Sister Ika and the TRUK-F team immediately coordinated with the Sikka Police Department. On Wednesday, 21 January 2026, they took action. Officers stood guard outside the venue. Sister Ika entered first.
“I asked for permission to meet one of the girls, the one who sent the WhatsApp message. We did not simply come and take them. We requested permission from the pub owner,” she explained.
After receiving permission, the woman who had contacted her left with a frightened face and a trembling body.
The next day, three more victims sent messages, this time accompanied by pictures, some showing their bodies marked by visible bruises.
“They sent photos showing signs of violence. They had been beaten by the pub owner; there were blue bruises on their bodies,” Sister Ika said.
The evidence strengthened the legal case. In coordination with the police's Women and Children Protection Unit (PPA), the victims submitted a list of the names of those who wanted to leave.
Eventually, accompanied by police officers, Sister Ika was able to remove all 13 victims. But another shocking fact emerged: none of them had ID cards.
“When we asked for their ID cards, not one of them had their identification in hand. I immediately informed the police so they could request their IDs back,” the nun said.
Thanks to the police intervention, the nightclub manager returned identity documents to the women. However, the evacuation did proceed without resistance. The nightclub owner was reportedly in Jakarta.
When his legal advisor arrived at the nightclub, he accused the team of conducting an improper operation. However, the Sikka Police Department had prepared a formal investigation warrant in advance. With this legal basis, the evacuation proceeded.
Finally, in the early hours of 23 January 2026, the 13 women were removed from the premises, taken to a safe house, a shelter for women and children victims of violence provided by TRUK-F.
On 6 February 2026, they officially filed a complaint with police and initiated legal action, which is ongoing.
In the process of returning the victims to their families, West Java authorities accompanied them to their respective families in their home province, after coordinating with Sister Ika, a key figure in the rescue operation.
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23/06/2022 18:04
21/08/2020 15:57
