following examination of immigration internal applications<\/span><\/a> and CCTV records at the port, officers managed to identify NAY, a Myanmar passport holder and Singapore permanent resident. <\/p>\nCCTV video showed that NAY and his parents had problems during inspection because they did not have return tickets. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn accordance with procedure, foreigners must possess return tickets. This is to prevent them from overstaying or being rejected when attempting to return to Singapore,\u201d Mr Ujo said. \u201cAt that time, we were busy inspecting other foreigners, so NAY and his parents had to wait up to two hours in the supervisor\u2019s room.\u201d <\/p>\n
A broker then entered. Initial investigation found the broker approached NAY and offered to help for a fee. The broker then negotiated with an immigration officer, identified as an assistant supervisor, known only as JS. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe broker requested $100 per person. After negotiation, the total was $250 for three persons. The broker gave $150 to the officer,\u201d said Mr Washington Napitupulu from the Internal Compliance Directorate, who also attended the press conference along with Batam Immigration Office head Hajar Aswad. <\/p>\n
Mr Washington said his team had questioned the broker and officer, who had been withdrawn from service pending further investigation. <\/p>\n
Mr Ujo said he was disappointed and ashamed by the case and said all officials involved would be severely punished. \u201cThis is a single operator and not an organisational policy. I am very disappointed and angry,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have previously disciplined dozens of officers and we will continue to do so.\u201d <\/p>\n
He said that Immigration and Corrections Ministry employees who violated the code of ethics would be sent for a month-long \u201cspecial development process\u201d on Nusakambangan Island, off Cilacap, Central Java, known for its maximum-security prisons, reserved for high-risk inmates. <\/p>\n
\u201cAn internal investigation is currently ongoing to find evidence, while the code of ethics punishment has begun,\u201d Mr Ujo said. \u201cWe are also open to referring the case to the police to investigate corruption.\u201d <\/p>\n
He added that his office had used diplomatic channels to urge mothership.sg to provide a response. Diplomatic channels were taken because a direct message for clarification to the media outlet, which first reported the case that went viral, was not answered. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have contacted the media through the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore and immigration attache to clarify the report,\u201d he said. \u201cThe report must be clear, don\u2019t just use initials. It was difficult for us to uncover the details of the case.\u201d <\/p>\n
Mr Hajar said the Batam Immigration Office had taken several preventive measures since March 26, the day after the report went viral. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have tightened access to sterile areas and coordinated with port management to ensure only authorised people enter the immigration area,\u201d he said. \u201cGuests and brokers are no longer allowed to enter without official name tags.\u201d <\/p>\n
Mr Hajar also said his office had halted inspections behind closed doors. \u201cExcept in cases of suspected fake passports, fake visas or fake stay permits, all immigration inspections are now conducted at open counters together with other passengers,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Responding to allegations of a secret room to negotiate fees, Mr Hajar said that in-depth inspections were usually conducted in rooms for foreigners who did not have return tickets, in accordance with international regulations and this is what triggered the inspection for NAY. <\/p>\n
However, Mr. Hajar said he ordered the practice to stop on March 26 to prevent any abuse of authority.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve told my officers that inspections behind closed doors are only for suspected holders of fake passports, visas or stay permits,\u201d he said. \u201cOther than that, inspections are no longer to be conducted inside closed rooms.\u201d <\/p>\n
Batam Immigration Office has coordinated with the immigration attache at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore to reach out to the victim. <\/p>\n
\u201cNAY is a victim, he was not wrong. We hope he can come here to provide a statement,\u201d Mr Hajar said. \u201cIf there are material losses, we will attempt to refund them.\u201d <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Mr Washington said the investigation had received special attention from Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto and acting Immigration director general Yuldi Yusman. Relevant punishments are mandated according to government regulations on civil service discipline. <\/p>\n
\u201cDisciplinary punishment can be as serious as dismissal. If there is enough evidence and witnesses, we can refer the case to the police for alleged extortion and corruption,\u201d Mr Washington said. <\/p>\n
The immigration office has also tightened supervision in service areas by providing a complaint channel through a barcode directly connected to the Internal Compliance Directorate in Jakarta. The public and tourists are advised to file reports if they encounter illegal levies or unprofessional conduct in the field. THE JAKARTA POST\/ASIA NEWS NETWORK<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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