Ombudsman ensures Immigration services remain optimal amidst corruption allegations
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ombudsman (ORI) has ensured that Immigration services remain optimal amidst public attention regarding ongoing legal proceedings related to alleged corruption in the issuance of stay permits, involving the Head of the West Jakarta Immigration Office and several other parties.
Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Ombudsman, Rahmadi Indra Tektona, stated that the institution is present to ensure that public services continue to operate professionally, transparently, and accountably. “The situation currently attracting public attention must not reduce the quality of service or hinder the fulfilment of the rights of citizens in need of immigration services,” Rahmadi said in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Saturday.
To ensure the quality of public service delivery, the ORI conducted direct monitoring at the Special Class I Non-TPI Immigration Office in West Jakarta on Thursday (4/6). The monitoring was carried out to ensure that immigration services continue to run effectively, professionally, and transparently, and are free from maladministration practices.
The visit, led by the Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Ombudsman and Ombudsman Member Syafrida Rasahan, is part of the Ombudsman’s supervisory function regarding the implementation of public services.
The ORI emphasised the importance of service continuity for the community and the fulfilment of various principles of good governance in every immigration service delivery. Based on the monitoring results, services at the West Jakarta Immigration Office continue to proceed as usual. The public can still access immigration services, and officers continue to perform their duties according to established procedures.
During dialogues with service users, the Ombudsman discovered that some applicants for Limited Stay Permits (KITAS) use agents or third parties to manage their applications. This finding has drawn the ORI’s attention, as the use of agents in processing immigration documents carries the potential risk of irregularities if not accompanied by adequate oversight mechanisms.
Syafrida provided recommendations to the West Jakarta Immigration Office staff to strengthen the verification and validation processes for agents or parties representing applicants in immigration services. “The use of agents in the process of managing stay permits must be accompanied by strict verification mechanisms to ensure that the acting party truly possesses valid authority from the applicant, and to close the potential for irregularities, abuse of power, or maladministration in the service process,” said Syafrida.
According to her, strengthening supervision over applicant representation mechanisms is a vital part of efforts to maintain the integrity of immigration services, particularly for services related to the stay permits of foreign nationals, which carry a relatively high level of risk.
The Indonesian Ombudsman will continue to supervise the delivery of public services in the immigration sector, including monitoring the improvement measures taken by the West Jakarta Immigration Office following the emergence of the case currently attracting public attention. Syafrida expressed hope that all public service providers would use this incident as a momentum to strengthen service governance, increase transparency, and build oversight systems capable of preventing maladministration.