West Papua Immigration Investigates Two Foreign Nationals Over Immigration Offences

The West Papua Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration is investigating two foreign nationals from the United States and the United Kingdom for alleged immigration offences. Asrul, the Head of the West Papua Immigration Regional Office, stated in Manokwari on Saturday that the American national is suspected of violating Article 122 (a) in conjunction with Article 116, while the British national is suspected of violating Article 136, paragraphs (1) and (2), in conjunction with Article 118 of Law Number 6 of 2011.

“Following the investigation, our officers found elements of immigration crimes. They failed to report the type and nature of the business activities they were conducting,” said Asrul. He noted that both foreign nationals were detained by immigration officers in the Sorong region, Southwest Papua, some time ago, and the case has now been transferred to the West Papua High Prosecutor’s Office for further legal proceedings.

He emphasised that enforcing immigration laws is an effort to maintain administrative order and to tighten the supervision of the presence and activities of foreign nationals in both West Papua and Southwest Papua. “We are currently awaiting information from the High Prosecutor’s Office as the case has not yet reached the P21 stage; there are still further instructions from the prosecutor that need to be fulfilled,” Asrul added.

Additionally, he reported that three Filipino nationals were deported between January and May 2024 due to overstaying their permits in the Teluk Wondama Regency. He also noted that there were 3,538 crossings of both foreign and Indonesian nationals entering and exiting the West Papua and Southwest Papua regions throughout the period of January to May 2024.

“The three Filipino nationals violated the provisions of Article 78, paragraph 3 of Law Number 6 of 2011. They were deported on 5 May 2024,” Asrul concluded.