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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Ten Foreign Nationals Used Fake Documents for Indonesia Stay, Aimed for UK

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Ten foreign nationals have been arrested in Indonesia for using fake documents to obtain investor KITAS (limited stay permits).
  • Their primary motive was to use Indonesia as a transit point to eventually travel to and reside in the United Kingdom.
  • The suspects, including eight Pakistanis and two Iraqis, entered Indonesia legally but falsified investment and company documents to secure their permits.

Indonesian immigration authorities have arrested ten foreign nationals for allegedly using fraudulent documents to obtain investor Limited Stay Permits (KITAS). The suspects, comprising eight Pakistani citizens and two Iraqi citizens, are accused of fabricating investment and company records to gain legal residency in Indonesia.

Their original destination country is in Europe. So they deliberately obtained Indonesian KITAS to make it easier for them to obtain European visas later.

— Hendarsam MarantokoDirector General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko explaining the suspects' motive for using Indonesia as a transit point.

Immigration Director General Hendarsam Marantoko revealed that the primary motive for these individuals was not to invest or reside in Indonesia, but to use the country as a stepping stone to reach Europe, specifically the United Kingdom. "Their original destination country is in Europe. So they deliberately obtained Indonesian KITAS to make it easier for them to obtain European visas later," Hendarsam stated.

The results of the investigation showed their destination was the UK, most likely to work and settle there.

— Hendarsam MarantokoDirector General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko detailing the suspects' ultimate goal.

The group entered Indonesia legally through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. However, investigations revealed they planned to work and settle in the UK. The arrests were made during an immigration operation in an apartment in Tangerang, Banten. Officials became suspicious when the foreigners could not provide basic explanations about their sponsoring companies or the realization of their claimed investments.

When briefly interviewed in the field, these foreigners were unable to provide fundamental explanations regarding the profile of the sponsoring company or the realization of investment activities claimed in their name during their stay in Indonesia.

— HasaninHead of Tangerang Immigration Office Hasanin describing the initial suspicion that led to the investigation.

Further investigation, including verification of company documents and field checks with the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), uncovered discrepancies. The suspects' signatures on company documents did not match their official records, and their purported companies' bank accounts were flagged as invalid. Crucially, immigration data indicated the ten foreigners had not yet arrived in Indonesia at the time key company incorporation documents were supposedly issued, confirming the use of falsified timelines and identities.

In practice, they did not have real business activities.

— HasaninHead of Tangerang Immigration Office Hasanin on the lack of genuine business operations by the suspects.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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