Medan scrutinizes foreign visitors

MEDAN, North Sumatra: As the general election draws near, the provincial immigration office has placed some 350 foreigners under scrutiny for visa irregularities.

Head of the immigration control and sanction affairs office Imam Soeprapto, told Antara on Friday the move was part of efforts to prevent "unwanted incidents" during the June 7 polls.

Imam said many of the foreigners, who came from the United States, the Netherlands, South Korea, Japan and Singapore, were found to have expired permits for temporary residence in Indonesia.

As of January, the office had deported four foreigners -- Robert Herbert Clerk of England, Rosmani bin Said and Latifah binti Moh. Kasim from Malaysia and Bongoura C. Philips of South Africa for expired permits.

Imam said the office had begun looking into the objectives of visiting foreigners, including tourists.