Singaporean tried for overstaying

TANGERANG (JP): Singaporean national Lim Eng Kok, alias Tan Paulus, 69, faces a maximum punishment of five years for overstaying the time allowed for his stated purpose in Indonesia.

In the first hearing, prosecutor Rachmad Darianto said the defendant had violated existing immigration regulations since his arrival in Indonesia in January 1990.

"He came to Indonesia as a tourist and therefore, needed no visa. The defendant used this to his advantage and opened a center for reflexology and Akido martial arts training in Serpong, Tangerang," Rachmad told the hearing presided by judge Achmad Zaini.

"To fool local residents, the defendant claimed to be of Dayak origins from West Kalimantan and for 10 years lived under an alias. This is clearly a violation of Article 50 of the 1992 Immigration Law," he added.

The Article on misuse of purpose of stay carries a maximum sentence of a five-year jail term or a fine of Rp 25 million (US$2,600).(41/ylt)