Ponorogo Immigration Detains Malaysian National for Eight-Year Overstay in Pacitan

Ponorogo, East Java (ANTARA) - The Class II Non TPI Immigration Office in Ponorogo, East Java, has detained a Malaysian national who violated immigration regulations by overstaying for around eight years in Pacitan Regency. The head of the Ponorogo Class II Non TPI Immigration Office, Anggoro Widy Utomo, said on Thursday that the foreign national named Mohamad Zukri (56) was arrested after a report from the Donorojo Religious Affairs Office (KUA) regarding irregularities in marriage documents. “It started with a report from the Pacitan KUA on 9 January, then we conducted an investigation until the stay permit violation was found,” he said. Examination results showed that the individual last entered Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta Airport on 11 August 2018 with a visa-free visit facility valid until 9 September 2018. In addition to the immigration violation, officers also found suspected forgery of documents related to marital status for the purpose of marrying a woman from Pacitan. “The individual stated his status as a widower, whereas he is still bound in marriage to a woman in Salatiga,” he said. He added that the allegedly forged document was a marriage permission letter outside Malaysian territory, claimed to have been issued by the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta. For his actions, the suspect is charged under Article 119 paragraph (1) of Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration, with a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp500 million. Currently, the case file has been handed over to the Pacitan District Prosecutor’s Office for further legal proceedings.