Batam Immigration Chief Removed and Investigated in Foreign Tourist Extortion Case

The head of the Class I Special Immigration Office at Batam Port, Hajar Aswad, has been removed from his position following suspicions arising from a case of illegal levies (pungli) by a Batam immigration officer with initials JS against foreign tourists (wisman) at the Batam Centre International Port.

Hajar Aswad’s removal takes effect from next Monday (6 April).

After being removed from his post, Aswad is being transferred to the central office for further examination regarding the pungli case at Batam immigration against foreign tourists that occurred on 13 March.

“Transferred to the centre, starting next Monday, 6 April 2026,” said the Head of the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration for the Riau Islands, Ujo Sujoto, when contacted by CNNIndonesia.com on Friday (3 April).

Ujo explained that Aswad is being brought to the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services (Kemenimipas) in Jakarta for further investigation into the alleged pungli.

He said he does not yet know how long Aswad will undergo examination at the centre.

For the time being, he said, the position of Head of the Class I Special Immigration Office at Batam Port will be held by an Acting Head (Plh) until a permanent official is appointed.

“Until a permanent official is appointed, the position is temporarily held by the acting head (Plh),” he stated.

He also added that the immigration officer with initials JS who carried out the pungli against foreign tourists at the Batam Centre international port on 13 March 2026 is still undergoing examination by the Internal Compliance Directorate (Patnal) of the Directorate General of Immigration.

“This is still ongoing examination; the final results will come from the Directorate General of Immigration,” he said.