Hide 4 Filipino Citizens, A Resident Of Sangihe Sulsel Threatened With 2 Years In Prison

The head of Immigration for T.N. Novly Immigration, Momongan (left) after giving a press statement, and the suspect JT (wearing a hat). (ANTARA)

MANADO - A resident of Sangihe Islands Regency, North Sulawesi (Sulsel) with the initials JT (58) was named a suspect by the TPI TPI TPI Class II Immigration Office for allegedly carrying and hiding four Filipinos who entered Indonesian territory illegally and were threatened with 2 years in prison.

"JT has been named a suspect for allegedly hiding four foreigners at his house who entered illegally into Indonesian territory," said TPI TPI Class II Immigration office head Tavily TN Momongan, in Tahuna, Wednesday.

According to him, the determination of the suspect against JT was because he was strongly suspected of committing the immigration crime of Article 124 letter (a) of Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration.

"JT deliberately hides or protects or provides accommodation or provides a living for four foreigners from the Philippines for several days without informing the relevant authorities," he said.

The modus operandi, he said, was before coming to Tahuna, Sangihe Islands Regency, HDS, who is a Filipino, made contact via WhatsApp with suspect JT to bring several types of goods from the Philippines to Tahuna in the form of alcoholic drinks and chickens which were then exchanged for cigarettes prepared by suspect JT.

Based on the WhatsApp communication, four Filipinos brought goods and came to Tahuna using a traditional pampboat without going through an official inspection and did not have travel documents in the form of valid passports and visas and were still valid.

"The four foreigners were picked up by the suspect JT and taken by the perpetrator to their residence and stayed for three weeks," said Novly.

For this action, JT was investigated and allegedly fulfilled the elements of the Immigration crime as referred to in Article 124 of Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration with a maximum imprisonment of 2 (two) years and/or a maximum fine of Rp. 200 million.

"Currently, the JT suspect's documents are complete and ready to be submitted to the Sangihe District Attorney," he said.