TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Immigration has temporarily suspended Hajar Aswad, the Head of the Special Class I Immigration Office (TPI) in Batam, following surfacing allegations of extortion involving foreign tourists and immigration officers at the Batam Center International Port.
"The individual has been temporarily summoned to the central office for questioning," said the Head of the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration in the Riau Islands, Ujo Sujoto, as quoted by Antara on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
Immigration authorities have also suspended an officer identified by the initials JS, who is suspected of involvement in extortion practices targeting foreign tourists at the port. However, the Directorate General of Immigration under the Ministry of Immigration and Law Enforcement has not yet issued a formal statement regarding Hajar Aswad’s temporary removal.
Lagat Siadari, Head of the Ombudsman of the Riau Islands, believes this should serve as a turning point to overhaul the immigration service system in Batam. He stated that his office will closely monitor all stages of service, including passport and visa processing. "We will monitor all aspects of immigration services," Lagat said on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
Lagat argued that given Batam's status as an international entry point equipped with an autogate system, the quality of service should be significantly higher. He questioned how extortion could still occur despite the substantial investments poured into the facility.
He further called for a comprehensive evaluation of the officials involved to prevent similar incidents from recurring. According to him, the assessment should encompass all parties involved, the victims, and the total amount of money extorted.
Lagat noted that the swift action taken by the central government is appropriate, particularly in handling the individuals implicated. He also highlighted that services in enclosed spaces may create opportunities for intimidation. He requested an end to closed-room examination processes, such as passport stamping, in the future.
Previously, allegations of extortion came to light after the Instagram account of a Singapore-based digital media firm @mothershipsg posted details on March 25, 2026. The post cited requests for money from foreign nationals during immigration checks.
Read: Indonesia's Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Breaks Into Skytrax Top 10 in 2026
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