Brunei stops 13 expats from leaving

Brunei stops 13 expats from leaving

BRUNEI: Brunei has stopped 13 foreigners from leaving the tiny Southeast Asian sultanate where they were hired by a company set up to pay off creditors of a prince's failed business, Western diplomats said on Monday.

Authorities have cited visa irregularities for barring the three Australians, four Britons, five New Zealanders and a Malaysian, from traveling, the diplomats said.

They are not being detained, and can move around freely in the oil-rich state on the west coast of the island of Borneo.

"We have been making representations to the government so that they can travel freely to and from Brunei," Simon Hart, Britain's vice-consul said.

Brunei government officials were not immediately available for comment.

One or two of the 13 are expected to be allowed to go later this week, but not all of them are seeking to leave immediately. -- Reuters