A gaggle of 30 immigration officers was faraway from their locations at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hetta International Airport, following accusations of extortion that goals to Chinese guests, in accordance with an Indonesian minister.
The Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andropria confirmed the motion on Sunday (January 2) and mentioned that his ministry obtained a proper grievance from the Chinese embassy in Indonesia, intimately at the least 44 circumstances of alleged unlawful dietary supplements to the airport, in accordance with native media.
“Without the data of the Chinese embassy, we might not have been conscious of this drawback. Thanks to their relationship, we have been capable of take fast actions to enhance immigration providers, “he mentioned, as talked about by Jakarta Globe.
The minister additionally urged the nationwide immigration officers to help professionalism and integrity of their duties.
Time reported that one of many officers was Arfa Yudha Este, head of the applying division of intelligence and immigration to the Special Class Immigration Office I SOEKARNO-HETTA TPI.
When requested if the Arfa have been among the many officers, Agus confirmed, in accordance with native media.
According to native media, the Chinese embassy in Indonesia despatched a letter, dated 21 January, to the General Management of Protocols and Consular Affairs of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, the General Management of Immigration of the Ministry of Immigration and Affairs of the corrections and the final administration of Asia of Pacific and Africa.
The letter acknowledged that a number of Chinese residents had been extorted by the immigration officers to Soekarno-Hatta airport, which had been indicated as Jakarta International Airport within the letter. Chinese guests have been requested to pay immigration brokers earlier than the doorway is allowed.
The letter detailed at the least 44 alleged circumstances of extortion that occurred between February 2024 and January 2025, in accordance with the time, which he quoted a doc he had obtained. He additionally mentioned {that a} complete of 32,750,000 Rupiah (US $ 2,000) had been reimbursed to greater than 60 Chinese residents following these circumstances.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg as a result of extra Chinese residents have been extorted with out presenting complaints on account of slim applications or concern of retaliation once they entered the long run,” mentioned the letter, talked about for a while.
Previously, Agus mentioned that the officers have been briefly fired, which could possibly be seen as a possibility to implement the reforms for the comparatively new ministry.
“This is a chance to implement vital reforms as a result of immigration acts from the primary line of Indonesia to commit with worldwide guests,” he mentioned.
The new Ministry of Immigration and Corrections was established after the inauguration of President Prabowo Subcine on 20 October. Previously, immigration and correction divisions have been below the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.
