Japanese Citizen Fugitive Interpol Arrested In Batam Uses Fake Identity For Officers

A foreign national (WNA) from Japan with the initials YY who became an Interpol fugitive in the pursuit of the National Police's International Relations Division (Divhubinter) was arrested in the waters of Batam City.

"The arrest of this fugitive is the result of a collaboration between the Class I Immigration Special for the Batam TPI and the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Riau Islands in collaboration with the Barelang Police Satpolairud, as well as the Police Divhubinter," said Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Public Relations Division Kombes Erdi A. Chaniago told reporters, Wednesday, February 21.

Erdi explained that the Japanese foreigner's arrest began when personnel from the Barelang Police Satpolairud patrolled the waters of Pulau Bulan, Bulang District, Batam City on January 31, 2024.

From the patrol, it was found that a boat contained seven people. The seven were also checked for identity.

"Seven people with identity information, namely one man as a tekong, one man as a crew member, and five passengers consisting of one foreign man (WNA), two men and two women who are Indonesian citizens," he said.

After interrogation at the location, it was found that there was a suspected practice of sending non-procedural Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) to Malaysia.

The Barelang Police Satpolairud also found that the Japanese foreigner did not have an identity card and other important documents.

All passengers including tekong and crew were then taken to the Barelang Police Satpolairud Office for further examination.

"On February 2, 2024, one foreigner was handed over a prisoner by the Barelang Police Satpolairud to the Batam TPI Special Class I Immigration Office," he said.

Based on the results of the examination, the Japanese foreigner claimed to be named Hajime Hatanaka. However, after being traced, it turned out that the identity was fake.

The Directorate of Immigration Cooperation and Divhubinter of the National Police stated that the original identity of the Japanese foreigner had the initials YY.

"YY is known to enter Indonesian territory on April 2, 2021 through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and uses passport No. TR3821024," he said.

Erdi then conveyed that the Japanese citizen with the initials YY was an Interpol (Blue Notice) DPO with No. Notice: B-3931/12-2022 for alleged fraud violations.

"The National Police have coordinated with the immigration authorities, then the Police's communication with the Japanese police is very good in the Interpol forum," said Erdi.