Missing Argentinian Girl May Be in Toraja, Police Join Search
Jakarta. The mother of a kidnapped 7-year-old Argentinian girl is in Indonesia and hopes to find her daughter, who may now be in Toraja, South Sulawesi.
During a press conference at the Embassy of Argentina in Jakarta on Monday (05/02), Elizabeth Avalos told reporters that she is seeking help from Indonesian citizens and authorities to find her daughter, Alum Langone Avalos, who was kidnapped by her father in June.
"Alum's father picked her up from school and took her out of the country illegally last June. I haven't heard from her since," Avalos said.
Alum is believed to have been brought illegally into Indonesia through Batam, Riau Islands, after spending months in different locations in Malaysia.
The father, Jorge Langone, and a woman named Candela Gutierrez had brought Alum to Bolivia and Brazil, before they left for Asia.
Avalos and Alum have been separated for years, and the mother was granted full custody of Alum in July.
There are indications that they may be in Toraja, Avalos said.
Avalos said they may appear like an ordinary family traveling around. She added that Langone may have been using fake names, deny they are from Argentina, and instead claim they come from Mexico or Spain.
They go around by hitchhiking, with Langone working as a musician and Gutierrez as a dancer.
The embassy said Interpol has issued a red notice on Langone.
Argentina's ambassador to Indonesia, Ricardo Luis Bocalandro, told the Jakarta Globe that Avalos will be meeting with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Police and the Directorate General of Immigration this week.
"Until now we don't know if the police are looking for them or not. We have some meetings this week, we hope they will help," Avalos said.
National Police spokesman Sr. Com. Martinus Sitompul said they have received a yellow notice on Alum and red notices on Langone and Gutierrez, Beritasatu.com reported.
"We will share these notices with district police, and we will also communicate and coordinate with Interpol. If they had indeed entered Indonesia, the immigration office should be the first to obtain such information," Martinus said.
"Please help me find my daughter and put an end to this nightmare," Avalos said.
Anyone with information regarding Alum's whereabouts is requested to contact the embassy at +62 8169 19121.
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