US Fugitive Arrested in Depok Bunker and Deported
An American citizen, identified by the initials AW, was arrested while hiding in a residential bunker in Depok, West Java. The individual, who was a fugitive from sexual harassment cases in the United States, has since been deported to his home country.
“Administrative immigration measures, including detention, deportation, and a ban on re-entry, have been imposed on the individual,” stated the Director General of Immigration, Hendarsim Marantoko, in a statement on Saturday (6/6/2026).
The Directorate General of Immigration captured the US fugitive while he was hiding in a house in the Sawangan area of Depok on Thursday (23/4). AW has reportedly been in Indonesia since 2011. He fled his home country to evade legal proceedings regarding sexual harassment offences in the US and used Indonesia as a hiding place to avoid detection.
The case came to light after a woman, identified as NM, reported to the Directorate General of Immigration that she and her two children had their freedom restricted by AW and had been victims of sexual harassment. Following the report, the Directorate General of Immigration facilitated the return of NM and her children to the United States.
Subsequent to this, Immigration authorities focused their efforts on capturing AW. The arrest was executed following a request for assistance from the US Embassy, alongside a series of investigations and intelligence operations.
“The Directorate General of Immigration coordinated with United States authorities to trace AW’s legal status, which eventually led to his discovery and apprehension in Depok,” said Hendarsim.
In Indonesia, AW was also found to have committed immigration violations, including the use of false identities and the misuse of travel documents. Hendarsim emphasised that this success demonstrates the effectiveness of immigration oversight and the commitment of the Immigration Department to maintaining national security and sovereignty through the application of selective policy principles and the spirit of ‘Immigration for the People’.