Rumah Detensi Imigrasi Denpasar has deported an asylum seeker from Chad who attempted to travel to New Zealand through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. The individual, identified as IAM, had been held at the detention facility for 1 year and 2 months before being returned to his home country.
“The violation not only violates administrative provisions, but also has the potential to disrupt public order,” said the Head of the Denpasar Rudenim Gede Dudy Duwita in Jimbaran, Badung Regency, Bali, on Friday.
According to immigration records, the 33-year-old arrived in Indonesia on 1 June 2024 via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport with a visitor visa. After a brief stay in Jakarta, he flew to Bali, planning to continue his journey to New Zealand, as direct flights from Ngurah Rai Airport were available.
Issues with Travel Documents and Visa Validity
Authorities explained that IAM had received help from an acquaintance, with the initials I, a Yemeni national, whom he met through social media, to arrange travel documents. However, when IAM tried to check in for a flight on July 31, 2024, airline staff denied his departure due to his expired Indonesian residence permit and discrepancies in his New Zealand visa.
Following the failed attempt to leave Indonesia and running out of funds, IAM stayed for several days at a mosque near the airport before being detained by immigration officers. He was unable to pay the administrative penalty for overstaying, prompting Ngurah Rai Immigration to transfer him to the Denpasar detention center.
Repatriation Completed After Administrative Processing
After fulfilling administrative procedures and securing the necessary financial arrangements, IAM was deported to N’Djamena International Airport in Chad.
Moroccan National Also Deported After Fraud Case
In a separate case, Rudenim Denpasar deported a Moroccan citizen identified as YEK. The 30-year-old had completed a seven-month prison sentence at Kerobokan Class II-A Penitentiary after being convicted of fraudulent non-payment for a rented motorbike valued at six million rupiah.
Immigration officials also recommended that YEK be barred from reentering Indonesia, in line with Article 75 paragraph 1 of the Immigration Law.
“We emphasize the importance of compliance with immigration rules and foreign nationals to always respect the provisions while in Indonesia,” he said.
Next Steps
Authorities confirmed that both deportations were completed in accordance with existing immigration regulations, with no further measures pending at this time.
