"They committed scamming or fraud targeting foreigners in foreign countries, such as Malaysia," Director of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement at Bali Immigration, Saffar Muhammad Godam, stated on Friday.
He remarked that 103 Taiwanese targeted victims abroad based on their confessions during questioning.
Godam confirmed that they were not involved in hacking resulting in disruption to the National Data Center (PDN) that affected immigration services on June 20. They were also not related to online gambling and human smuggling.
Currently, the 103 foreigners, comprising 91 men and 12 women, are being temporarily held at the Denpasar Immigration Detention Center (Rudenim) before being deported.
The Directorate General of Immigration did not find any criminal elements in their arrest so it could not be escalated to the investigation stage.
"They carry out activities in Indonesia but the victims are in other countries. It is difficult to fulfill the criminal elements in this case," Godam elaborated.
He said that online fraud targeting victims outside Indonesian territory was a pattern of transnational crime. Hence, his side took administrative action with deportation, as they misused their residence permits.
Meanwhile, Head of the Immigration Supervision Team at Bali Immigration, Arief Eka Riyanto, stated that they came to Bali in the 2023-2024 period, with limited stay visas and holiday visas.
"Their visas are still valid and all of them are over 18 years old," he remarked.
Currently, his side has coordinated with Taiwanese authorities regarding the deportation process, with all costs borne by perpetrators or the Taiwanese authorities.
Earlier, 103 Taiwanese were arrested during a joint team search at a villa in Marga Sub-district, Tabanan District, on Wednesday, June 26, after conducting surveillance from the Bali Becik Operation.
Officers confiscated several items during the search that were suspected to be related to online crime, including 450 cell phones, several electronic devices, passports, wireless internet equipment, and laptops.
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Translator: Dewa Ketut S W, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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