A German national who was caught squatting for 10 days at an empty house in Bali has been deported after spending 10 months in detention for violating her visa.
The woman, identified only by her initials DJ, arrived in Bali on March 18 last year with a tourist visa that expired on April 16 that same year. She claimed she ran out of money and could not withdraw cash from her bank account since April 14.
She also said she did not contact the German Embassy or her family for help because her phone was confiscated by a hotel in Petitenget as collateral for her unpaid bills.
According to Anggiat Napitupulu, the head of the Bali Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the 53-year-old woman was detained by the Badung Public Order Agency on July 4 last year for causing a public disturbance. She was found squatting in an empty house in Petitenget and living off her savings. By then, she had overstayed her visa by 79 days.
“Immigration can still carry out deportation in accordance with the principle of ignorantia legis neminem excusat (ignorance of the law excuses no one),” Anggiat said.
After having served detention for 10 months and six days, DJ was deported to Germany yesterday at around 7pm. The German Embassy agreed to provide DJ with a ticket for her flight home.
“Further decisions on blacklisting will be made by the Immigration Directorate General, taking into account and considering the entire case,” Anggiat added.
