Thirty immigration officials at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport have been temporarily removed from their posts following allegations of extortion targeting Chinese visitors. The Indonesian Immigration and Corrections Ministry took action after receiving information from the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia, which detailed numerous cases of alleged extortion occurring between February 2024 and January 2025.
The Chinese Embassy's letter highlighted 44 cases in which Chinese citizens were reportedly extorted by immigration officers at the airport. These incidents resulted in a total refund of 32,750,000 rupiah (approximately US$2,000) to over 60 Chinese nationals. The embassy addressed the letter to various Indonesian ministries, including the Directorate General of Protocol and Consular Affairs and the Directorate General of Immigration, signaling the seriousness of the accusations.
Indonesian Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto confirmed the dismissals, acknowledging the critical role the Chinese Embassy played in uncovering the issue.
"Without the information from the Chinese Embassy, we wouldn’t have been aware of this issue. Thanks to their report, we were able to take swift action to improve immigration services," said Minister Agus Andrianto.
The scandal has prompted calls for reform within Indonesia's immigration services. The newly established Immigration and Corrections Ministry, formed after President Prabowo Subianto's inauguration on October 20, oversees these divisions, which were previously under the Justice Ministry. This restructuring aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in handling international visitors.
Among the accused officials is Arfa Yudha Indriawan, Head of Intelligence and Immigration Enforcement Division at the Class I Special Immigration Office TPI Soekarno-Hatta. The officials reportedly demanded payments from Chinese visitors before allowing them entry into Indonesia. The Chinese Embassy believes these cases represent only a fraction of a larger problem.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg because more Chinese nationals were extorted without submitting complaints due to tight schedules or fear of retaliation upon entering in the future," stated the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia.
Minister Agus Andrianto views this situation as an opportunity for significant reform within the immigration sector.
"This is an opportunity to implement significant reforms because immigration serves as Indonesia’s frontline in engaging with international visitors," he remarked.
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