Viral Foreigner Lost USD 5,000 At Soetta Airport, Customs And Excise Reported To Police

TANGERANG - A case of accusations by foreign nationals (WNA) from Cameroon who claimed to have lost money worth 5,000 US dollars after being questioned by Customs officers at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta), Tangerang, Banten, led to the police reporting stage.

This report was submitted to the Soetta Airport Police, Polda Metro Jaya by officers of the Main Service Office for Customs and Excise Type (KPUBC TMP) C on suspicion of criminal acts of violence and the spread of fake news through social media (medsos) with the @esty_linggar account.

"Yes, there were two reports received. The first report from the Customs and Excise officer reported that it was related when the incident occurred, the foreigner committed a criminal act of violence against one of the officers and the second, related to a viral case that said the foreigner had lost money," said Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of Soetta Airport Police, Kompol Yandri Mono, quoted by ANTARA.

He said that in following up on the report, his party is currently still conducting research and clarification processes on several witnesses and reporters in the case.

"Foreigners have not been examined, the report was only on August 20 yesterday, we have just clarified to the Customs and Excise parties along with the evidence he submitted," he said.

In addition, the investigating team of the Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) of the Soetta Airport Police is currently coordinating with relevant institutions/agencies as an effort to summon foreigners from Cameroon and video uploaders on suspicion of losing the money.

"Furthermore, we will coordinate with related parties to summon this foreigner. Because it was only reported yesterday that this was still in the process of being investigated. The important point is that Customs and Excise makes a report because what was submitted/proposed is not true," he explained.

Yandri said, as a follow-up to this report, a number of witnesses from the Customs and Excise side had been questioned in stages.

"We will inform you later, the witnesses have only been examined for one day, later we will convey it because we have to coordinate a copy to the embassy because it is related to foreigners," he explained.

Meanwhile, Head of KPU Type C Soekarno-Hatta Customs (Soetta), Gatot Sugeng Wibowo, confirmed that a foreign national (WNA) from Cameroon had provided false information or lied after admitting he lost money when questioned by customs officers at the airport.

"Actually it's just a hoax, because it doesn't exist. The results of the investigation from CCTV or the examination of several witnesses did not have money," said Gatot.

He said the Cameroonian citizen had previously spread information through social media users @esty_linggar about the story of his bad experience when he was at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Customs Office.

Where, the victim was currently being investigated by Customs and Excise officers. However, the money worth approximately Rp. 81 million was lost. He admitted that he did not know who took it.

However, after the investigation and checking process was carried out through CCTV footage, the allegations were not proven to be true.

"That's why he protested because he claimed to have lost money. After that, create content that went viral. If the inspection was based on checking goods," he said.

Gatot also said that the narrative conveyed on social media regarding American citizenship was not appropriate. Because, based on the passport shown that the person concerned is a Cameroonian citizen.

In addition, from flight data, he flew from Africa to Indonesia with the aim of shopping to Tanah Abang, Jakarta, where the goods would then be sent back to his country for sale.

"What was conveyed and accused by foreign passengers admitted to being from America and it turned out that their passport was from Cameroon," he said.