Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested three suspects in a graft case entailing the misuse of tourist visas in the West Nusa Tenggara immigration office, spokesman Febri Diansyah stated here, Wednesday.

The three suspects are Head of the Mataram Immigration Office in West Nusa Tenggara Kurniadie, Head of the office's intelligence and law enforcement section Yusriansyah Fazrin, and Director of PT Wisata Bahagia, the operator of Wyndham Sundancer Resort Lombok, Liliana Hidayat.

"They are under detention for 20 days," Diansyah remarked, adding that the trio are placed in separate detention centers of the KPK.

Kurniadie and Fazrin had allegedly taken bribes from Hidayat.

The case came to light after the immigration office investigators apprehended two foreigners, identified by their initials as BGW and MK, for misusing tourist visas.

"They had allegedly entered the country with tourist visas, but in fact, had worked in Wyndham Sundancer Lombok. The immigration investigators charged the two foreigners for violating article 122 of Law No. 6 of 2011 on immigration," Deputy Chief of KPK Alexander Marwata stated on late Tuesday (May 28).

Hidayat had allegedly attempted to persuade the investigators to halt legal proceedings against the two foreigners.

"The Mataram Immigration Office has issued an investigation warrant (SPDP) against the two foreigners on May 22, 2019. YRI (Yusriansyah Fazrin) contacted Liliana to take the SPDP," Marwata remarked, adding that it was then identified as a sign to set the price for freezing the case.

In their negotiation, Hidayat penned the amount of bribes on a piece of paper with a specific code. Fazrin received the paper covertly and sought approval from Kurniadie.

Hidayat offered bribes worth Rp300 million, but Fazrin declined the amount.

"Finally, they agreed on the 'price' to handle the case of the two foreigners at Rp1.2 billion," Marwata revealed. Related news: KPK explains status of two foreigners charged in permit bribery cases

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Translator: Benardy F, Sri Haryati
Editor: Azizah Fitriyanti
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