Immigration Makassar Foils Foreigner's Attempt to Forge Passport Using Fake ID Card

Makassar (ANTARA) - Officers foiled an attempt by a Chinese national, using the Indonesian name initial AT, to obtain a Republic of Indonesia passport with a fake Identity Card (KTP) at the Makassar Immigration Office in South Sulawesi.

“So, there is a foreign national (Chinese), who is actually a holder of KITAS (Limited Stay Permit Card). Then he tried to apply for an Indonesian passport at the Makassar Immigration Office,” said the Head of the South Sulawesi Immigration Directorate General Regional Office, Friece Sumolang, in Makassar on Tuesday.

During the document submission process, officers became suspicious because the applicant was not fluent in Indonesian. The officers’ suspicions were confirmed when the scanning system found a biometric data match, with the applicant identical to data for a Chinese foreign national with the initial LJ.

“In the interview process, it was suspected that the person was a foreign national. Then it was submitted to the supervisor. When checked in our database system, whether he is foreign, it turned out to be true WNA,” he said.

Further investigation revealed systematic manipulation of population data. In coordination with the Makassar City Civil Registry and Population Agency, it was confirmed that the ID card, Family Card, and Birth Certificate in the name of AT were invalid.

After fleeing, the Class I Special Immigration Office for TPI Makassar immediately followed up for law enforcement towards Pro Justitia because foreign nationals holding KITAS are not permitted to obtain Indonesian ID cards.

“So, once again, they are not allowed to obtain KTP. But, for foreigners holding Permanent Stay Permits (ITAP), they can obtain foreign e-ID cards, not Indonesian KTP,” he said.

Regarding the incident, they hope that the Population and Civil Registry Service (Dukcapil) will screen those applying for electronic ID cards to avoid being exploited by foreign national data.

“We hope, of course, there is also a filter from colleagues at Disdukcapil, when someone suspected to be a foreigner applies for KTP and Family Card or population data, it is hoped they can cooperate and synergise with Immigration to check the data,” he said.