Yogyakarta Immigration and Corrections Office head Yuni Santi Nurani said foreign nationals must obey Indonesian laws, adding that authorities would not tolerate criminal acts by foreigners.
The alleged theft occurred Monday afternoon, Aug. 24, inside the cabin of a Citilink flight bound for Jakarta shortly before takeoff, Nurani said.
A passenger reportedly saw the suspect, identified by the initials KW, take belongings from another passenger's overhead compartment and hide them inside his jacket.
The incident was immediately reported to the cabin crew and airport security personnel, who conducted a search and found a credit card in KW's pocket.
The card belonged to a Japanese passenger identified as HN. KW, who entered Indonesia on a visa on arrival, admitted to taking the card, Nurani said.
Because HN declined to file a criminal complaint, airport authorities removed KW from the aircraft so the flight could depart without further delay.
KW was then handed over to the immigration office in Kulon Progo for further processing, Nurani said.
Kulon Progo Class II Immigration Office head Mohamad Wahyudiyantoro said the case was the office's first immigration violation handled at the airport since its opening earlier this year.
He said the suspect's swift apprehension resulted from cooperation between immigration officials and the Foreigners Surveillance Team.
KW was suspected of violating Indonesia's immigration laws and was being held at a local detention facility while authorities conducted a further investigation.
Translator: Sutarmi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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