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