Five immigration officers at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport were apprehended on Tuesday night by the Bali High Prosecutor’s Office in an operation related to suspected extortion from foreign nationals using the fast track lane at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
They were identified by their initials N, P, I, G, and R.
“Complaints from the public regarding the misuse of the fast track facility prompted our investigation,” said Dedy Kurniawan, Assistant for Special Criminal Acts (Aspidsus) at the Bali High Prosecutor’s Office, in a press conference today.
The fast track lane, intended for priority groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, children, and migrant workers, offers free immigration service. However, investigations revealed that certain immigration officers allegedly levied fees ranging from IDR100,000 (US$6.45) to IDR250,000 (US$16.14) per foreigner using the fast track.
“We found evidence indicating a monthly collection of approximately IDR100 million (US$6,455) to IDR200 million (US$12,911) through the misuse of the fast track,” revealed Deddy during a press conference at the Bali High Prosecutor’s Office.
Seizing evidence totaling IDR 100 million, the authorities are now conducting further investigations to ascertain the duration of this alleged extortion scheme.
Under Indonesian law, each of the officers may face a prison sentence of between 4 to 20 years for extortion.
