Immigration says foreigner soaking in Lake Sunter was stressed after losing passport

The Tanjung Priok Class I Immigration Office has stated that the motive of an Algerian foreign national, identified by the initials BZ (29), who performed a ritual by soaking in Lake Sunter, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, was stress caused by losing his passport.

“We obtained initial information that the individual lost his passport in the Puncak area on Thursday (27/8),” said Yuris Setiawan, Head of the Intelligence and Immigration Enforcement Section at the Tanjung Priok Immigration Office, in Jakarta on Monday.

He said the foreign national had also tried to search for his passport at his residence in an apartment in North Jakarta. However, the official travel document was not found.

“He felt stressed and sought fresh air by walking around the Lake Sunter area. He felt that many people were talking about him, so he chose to plunge himself into Lake Sunter,” said Yuris.

He emphasised that his office had conducted an initial examination of the foreign national, and the results showed that the Algerian citizen is a holder of an investor Limited Stay Permit (ITAS) valid until 26 October 2026.

“We have taken his statement and we have issued a summons letter to the sponsor for clarification regarding the person they are sponsoring,” said Yuris.

“So far, that is what we have done, while waiting for the sponsor to come and provide further information,” Yuris stated.

He added that the foreign national has been living in Indonesia for more than two years and entered Indonesia in 2024.

“As for his activities, we are waiting for further information from the sponsor,” Yuris continued.

He said his office wants to first assess the extent of the immigration violations committed by the Algerian national.

“But most likely, there is a direction towards deportation,” Yuris concluded.

Previously, a joint team evacuated the Algerian foreign national who was soaking in Lake Sunter, Tanjung Priok District, North Jakarta, on Sunday (30/8).

“We successfully evacuated the foreign national on Sunday evening at 9.41 p.m. Western Indonesia Time, after lengthy dialogue and negotiation,” said Gatot Sulaeman, Head of Operations Section at the North Jakarta and Thousand Islands Fire and Rescue Sub-Department, in Jakarta on Monday.

He revealed that the foreign national was evacuated safely and has been taken by immigration authorities.

“The foreign national has the initials BZ and is 30 years old,” said Gatot.