BALI, RAKYAT NEWS – Denpasar Immigration Office in Bali is currently on the hunt for a foreign national from Bangladesh, suspected of misusing his residence permit by working as a tourist driver. The Immigration authorities are actively searching for the individual, as confirmed by Ridha Sah Putra, Head of the Denpasar Immigration Office, on January 18, 2025.

The Immigration Office has not disclosed the name of the suspect but revealed that they are aware of his background. The Immigration’s Intelligence and Enforcement team (Inteldakim) is working to locate the individual, with their efforts already including a visit to the Sanur Port in Denpasar, where they failed to find him.

The case gained attention when a video circulated on social media, particularly on Facebook, on January 17. In the video, locals are seen questioning a man wearing a pink shirt and a cap, believed to be from Bangladesh, who was picking up foreign tourists at the Sanur Port. The tourists, reportedly from Pakistan, were seen with luggage in the vehicle’s trunk.

The man, who identified himself as Bangladeshi, was conversing in Bahasa Indonesia, although not fluently. He claimed to be married to an Indonesian citizen, but when questioned, he denied being employed. He stated that he was merely picking up a friend. However, the tourists in the vehicle contradicted his statement, claiming that they were picked up by a driver.

The issue arose because the individual had entered Indonesia under a tourist visa or a visa-on-arrival (VoA), which prohibits holders from working in the country. Under Indonesian immigration law, foreigners entering on a tourist visa are not allowed to take up employment unless they possess a specific work visa.

There are, however, provisions in Indonesia’s Immigration Law that allow foreign workers to be employed in certain positions under strict conditions. According to Article 81, paragraph 4 of Law No. 6 of 2023, foreign workers can only be hired for specific roles, for a limited time, and must possess the necessary qualifications for the position.

As of now, the Immigration Office continues to investigate the case, with the suspect still at large. Immigration authorities are committed to ensuring that foreign nationals adhere to the laws and regulations governing their stay and employment in Indonesia.

This incident highlights the ongoing efforts by Indonesian authorities to enforce strict immigration policies, particularly in controlling the employment of foreign nationals. The Immigration Office has assured the public that they will continue to monitor and act against any violations of immigration laws. (Uki Ruknuddin)

 

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