Raid nabs illegal foreign workers

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Fifty-two foreigners were netted in a raid by the Balikpapan municipal administration in East Kalimantan for failing to show their work permits and temporary identity cards.

Most of them were netted at major companies in the provincial capital of Balikpapan, local public order officer Marwan Pribadi said on Wednesday.

He said the 52 foreigners were not detained but were obliged to complete their required documents, including temporary ID cards, with the relevant authorities.

Citing reasons for not possessing the documents, the suspects claimed they were not notified of the need to possess them, said Marwan.

He said that most of the foreigners in question only showed documents issued by the immigration office in Jakarta.

Marwan said such raids targeting foreigners would be conducted regularly in East Kalimantan to enforce the prevailing law.

The joint raid was carried out by the local police, the immigration office, the manpower and transmigration office and the military.

Data from the Balikpapan immigration office shows that there are about 1,600 foreigners working in Balikpapan. Most of them come from Australia, the United States and France. --JP