Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA) - The Denpasar Immigration Office in Bali arrested eight Uzbek nationals for overstaying their residence permits and were also suspected of involvement in criminal acts, considering that two of them were fugitives from West Jakarta Immigration.

"We are investigating the eight foreigners to obtain further information. Currently, they are being detained at the Denpasar Immigration Detention Center (Rudenim)," Head of Denpasar Immigration, Tedy Riyandi, stated in Denpasar on Friday.

His side is currently investigating the eight foreigners, including indications of suspected involvement in criminal acts, such as fraud in investment, Riyandi remarked.

The initial violation that was proven is five of them had exceeded the 60-day residence permit, he stated.

Meanwhile, Head of the Denpasar Immigration Intelligence and Enforcement Department Iqbal Rifai explained that two of the eight foreigners were fugitives from West Jakarta Immigration.

However, he has yet to provide details, including the allegation of criminal involvement, namely fraudulent investments.

"We are still investigating their activities. Some of their passports were detained at the West Jakarta Immigration as well. We cannot make any statement because we are still investigating the case," he remarked.

Based on data from Denpasar Immigration, the eight Uzbek foreigners entered Indonesia via the Soekarno Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, with different arrival dates, namely in March, April, September, and August 2023 using visas on arrival (VoA).

The eight foreigners were arrested based on information from the West Jakarta Immigration regarding the arrival of one of the foreigners, namely Akhmadulla Ugli Ulugbek Khasanov (AU) in Bali from Yogyakarta on October 25, 2023.

The 24-year-old man was a fugitive from the West Jakarta Immigration along with another colleague, Bekzod Kamza Ugli Khoijev (BK).

AU was then arrested shortly after landing at Ngurah Rai Airport upon arrival at around 20:00 local time on October 25.

Denpasar Immigration then arrested seven other people staying at a villa in Sanur, Denpasar, on the same night and the next day (October 26).

Meanwhile, based on the Denpasar Immigration data from January to October 26, 2023, some 85 foreigners were deported for overstaying their residence permits, with most of them being Russians.

In addition, data from the Bali Province Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, showed that from January to October 23, 2023, some 269 foreigners were deported from Bali, with Russian nationals constituting the largest number.

Meanwhile, in 2022, as many as 188 foreigners had been deported from Bali.

Foreigners subject to sanctions had abused residence permits, overstayed their residence permits, committed criminal acts, and violated legal norms and regulations in Indonesia, among other offences.

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Translator: Dewa Ketut S W, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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