Head of Batam Immigration Office suspended after alleged extortion cases at ferry terminal

The Head of the Batam Immigration Office, Hajar Aswad, who was allegedly involved in extortion cases at the Batam Centre International Ferry Terminal have been temporarily removed.

According to Bataminfo, Indonesia's Internal Compliance Directorate (Patnal) under the Directorate General of Immigration is investigating the case of illegal levies targeting foreign nationals.

On Apr. 2, the Head of the Patnal Sub-Directorate at the Directorate General of Immigration, Washington Napitupulu, said that the suspension was part of investigations.

Washington said the position of the office head will be taken over by an "acting daily executive" in the meantime.

8 officers examined so far

Washington added that eight immigration officers have been questioned thus far, reported Batam News.

He said that agents or brokers suspected of being involved in the extortion case have been blacklisted by immigration authorities.

Hajar previously told reporters that two people were identified for their involvement in the extortion cases.

Tourists from Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, China, the Philippines, and Bangladesh were allegedly extorted of up to S$300 each.

A Batam immigration officer was also fired.

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Top photo from Suckee Park/Google Maps and Gogiplus/Google Maps