Batam Immigration Officer Dismissed After Extorting Foreign Tourists
An immigration officer in Batam, Riau Islands (Kepri), initials JS, has been given a light sanction in a case of extortion or illegal levies (Pungli) amounting to S$300 per person against foreign tourists from Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, China, the Philippines, and Bangladesh at Batam Centre port.
The perpetrator has been dismissed from his position as an Official Officer at Batam Centre port. In addition to the Batam immigration officer, a tout with initials AS has also been secured and is currently undergoing ethics trial proceedings as well as further coordination with the police.
“Two individuals have been identified as involved: one internal rogue element and one external party (tout),” said the Head of Batam Immigration, Hajar Aswad, during a press conference on Sunday (29/3).
Although not yet designated as a suspect, the Immigration side promises to pursue the pungli case that besmirches the world of tourism in Indonesia, where the majority of tourists visiting Batam are those arriving from Singapore via ferry.
According to Aswad, the handling of the case is still ongoing, with immigration and police delving into the transaction flow, involvement of other parties, and tracing passenger crossing data from 13 March 2026. CCTV footage from the port area has also been secured as part of the evidence.
“The handling of the case is still ongoing. Immigration and police are delving into the transaction flow,” he stated.
From initial examinations, this pungli practice began with a demand for S$100 from foreign tourists. However, in practice, negotiations occurred between the victims and the tout, causing the transaction value to balloon to S$300.
In that scheme, the tout is suspected of handing over around S$150 to the rogue officer, while the remainder was used for personal interests. The proceeds from the pungli will be returned by the Batam Immigration Office to the tourists in the amount of S$300.
“The money has already been used for personal interests by the rogue and the tout. We will return the pungli money to the victims,” he said.
Previously, several foreign tourists arriving by ferry from Singapore reached Batam Centre port in Batam city, Kepri, on Friday (13/3).
Upon arrival in Batam, they were allegedly extorted by immigration officers at the Batam Centre port terminal for S$300 per person due to a mistake in switching queues at the Auto Gate.
They were then taken to a room and eventually settled after the foreign tourists fulfilled the settlement money demand from the Batam immigration officers.