48 Chinese and Taiwanese caught up in illegal gambling not deported yet because of insufficient funds

Bali’s immigration wants to deport 48 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals caught last Thursday running an illegal online gambling operation from their Jimbaran villa, but the money’s apparently just not there. 

Tieldwight Sabaru, executive acting head of Ngurah Rai Rai immigration says one does not simply deport all the illegal gambling scammers. 

“In cases like this, returning them to their own country is not as easy as you would imagine. Supposedly, in the case of deportation, they pay their own return. These people don’t have the money to buy the plane tickets,” Sabaru explained to Tribun Bali

RELATED Immigration raid: Jimbaran villa seemed empty at first since many were hiding in bathroom

“But we must not give up. We have to try to make it so they’re not too long in Indonesia,” he added. 

Bali immigration is reportedly trying to coordinate with the Chinese government and its representatives in Indonesia. 

“We still do not have their return tickets,” Sabaru said. 

Immigration says it will open it up so interested parties can assist with the repatriation of these Chinese citizens—but of course the sources must be legal. 

Sabaru also noted that most of the Chinese citizens captured in this immigration raid have generally refused to testify during interrogation, insisting that they cannot speak English. 

“But perhaps they are also still in shock,” Sabaru reasoned. 

Photo: AFP




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