Expats violate immigration ruling

Expats violate immigration ruling

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Over 20 expatriates have violated immigration regulations in Palu making it difficult for the local immigration office to register them, an official said.

Bambang Satrio, an official of the Palu Immigration Office, said on Wednesday that the 20 expatriates were included in a list from the Directorate General of Immigration and several others were noted in a list of the local office.

"One of the expatriates living illegally in Palu is identified only as Noberti," Bambang said, adding that the Dutch citizen's stay permit already expired on Oct. 10, 2001, but had not been extended.

Bambang said that most of the foreigners were formerly employed as professional staff in a number of companies, but when it was checked they had all quit their jobs.

According to data from the Palu immigration office, there are 158 foreigners living in Central Sulawesi. Forty seven of them are American citizens, who mostly work as missionaries stationed in remote areas. -- Antara