Foreign National Who Raged Over Recitation Loudspeaker in Gili Trawangan Found to Have Overstayed Visa
A foreign national who caused an uproar at a prayer hall in Gili Trawangan, West Nusa Tenggara, has been found to be living in Indonesia beyond her permitted visa period — a status known as overstay.
The discovery came after Immigration officials, assisted by the Criminal Investigation Unit of North Lombok Police, checked her residency status following the disturbance she caused on Wednesday evening (18 February).
"The individual has been taken to the immigration office for further examination regarding her overstayed residence permit," said Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of North Lombok Police, AKP I Komang Wilandra, on Sunday (22 February), as reported by Antara.
The actions of the woman, identified by her initials ML, became a hot topic on social media after video footage of the incident spread widely. She had confronted worshippers at a local prayer hall, claiming she was disturbed by the loudspeakers being used for tadarusan — the communal recitation of the Quran — during the holy month of Ramadan.
According to police reports, ML's actions went beyond verbal protest. She allegedly damaged a microphone that was being used by worshippers for Quran recitation.
She also seized a mobile phone from a local resident who attempted to record her behaviour. When a village official visited her residence to request the phone's return, ML refused and reportedly threatened the resident with a machete.
Officers explained to ML that tadarusan is a routine act of worship for Muslims, particularly during Ramadan. However, her confrontational attitude ultimately exposed her illegal status in the country.
The revelation of ML's overstay status appeared to complete a negative record for her family in the eyes of local residents. ML is known to reside in a villa owned by her parents in Gili Trawangan.
Ironically, her parents had reportedly already been driven out by local residents due to behaviour that frequently sparked conflict.
When a joint team from Immigration and the police arrived to collect ML, she initially refused to cooperate and was reluctant to meet the delegation.
However, after protracted negotiations involving a restriction on the number of personnel allowed to enter, the foreign national eventually agreed to be taken to the immigration office.
To prevent further friction between local residents and the foreign national's family, police have stationed personnel around the prayer hall and ML's villa.
"We have deployed security around the location following the incident to ensure the situation remains calm," added AKP Komang Wilandra.
The case is now fully in the hands of Immigration authorities, who will determine whether to pursue deportation or other legal sanctions in accordance with the residence permit violations found.
The discovery came after Immigration officials, assisted by the Criminal Investigation Unit of North Lombok Police, checked her residency status following the disturbance she caused on Wednesday evening (18 February).
"The individual has been taken to the immigration office for further examination regarding her overstayed residence permit," said Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of North Lombok Police, AKP I Komang Wilandra, on Sunday (22 February), as reported by Antara.
The actions of the woman, identified by her initials ML, became a hot topic on social media after video footage of the incident spread widely. She had confronted worshippers at a local prayer hall, claiming she was disturbed by the loudspeakers being used for tadarusan — the communal recitation of the Quran — during the holy month of Ramadan.
According to police reports, ML's actions went beyond verbal protest. She allegedly damaged a microphone that was being used by worshippers for Quran recitation.
She also seized a mobile phone from a local resident who attempted to record her behaviour. When a village official visited her residence to request the phone's return, ML refused and reportedly threatened the resident with a machete.
Officers explained to ML that tadarusan is a routine act of worship for Muslims, particularly during Ramadan. However, her confrontational attitude ultimately exposed her illegal status in the country.
The revelation of ML's overstay status appeared to complete a negative record for her family in the eyes of local residents. ML is known to reside in a villa owned by her parents in Gili Trawangan.
Ironically, her parents had reportedly already been driven out by local residents due to behaviour that frequently sparked conflict.
When a joint team from Immigration and the police arrived to collect ML, she initially refused to cooperate and was reluctant to meet the delegation.
However, after protracted negotiations involving a restriction on the number of personnel allowed to enter, the foreign national eventually agreed to be taken to the immigration office.
To prevent further friction between local residents and the foreign national's family, police have stationed personnel around the prayer hall and ML's villa.
"We have deployed security around the location following the incident to ensure the situation remains calm," added AKP Komang Wilandra.
The case is now fully in the hands of Immigration authorities, who will determine whether to pursue deportation or other legal sanctions in accordance with the residence permit violations found.