Public warned about suspicious foreigners

JAKARTA (JP): The public should be wary of suspicious looking foreigners and report them to the authorities, Zaiman Nurmatias, the director of control and supervision at Immigration, said yesterday.

Zaiman said many illegal aliens now in police custody had been living in residential areas, and working for local firms. "Some where married to local women," he said.

He said information from the public would help police and immigration officials in their work, citing the arrest of four Malians in West Jakarta on Tuesday.

"A local reported that suspicious looking black-skinned men where in the area. They probably worked in the clothing trade. The men were also seen at community prayers in local mosques," Zaiman said. "The local asked if they had proper immigration documents."

Zaiman said of the four Malians, "Only Bandiougou held a valid passport." The others, identified as Dembele Cheekou, Souare Mahamdou and Diawara Mamadou did not.

Zaiman said immigration officers found one of the Malians living in a rented house with his wife. "They have a four-year- old child, who speaks Javanese."

The four presented their passports, which showed they had overstayed their visas.

A Malian couple with two children were also found renting a house close by. They were unable to present any travel documents. The claimed they where marketing staff for a garment firm PT Africando, Zaiman said.

"They purchase garments and textiles from Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta and then send them home. They send two or three containers every two months," he said.

On Monday, immigration officials arrested seven foreigners holding Korean passports, and two with Nigerian passports, on Jl. Kebalen, South Jakarta, for overstaying their visas. (sur)